Kids In Glass Houses featuring Frankie-“Undercover Lover”

It was a combination I never thought I’d hear. I hadn’t even imagined it because it just seemed inconceivable. It started when I was listening to the music channels and surfing through radio channels as you do. Up by the brilliantly girlie pop band The Saturdays came on. I thought to myself; “I haven’t heard this in a while.” As I listened to their singing and watched their music video; I could not get over and constantly reminded that they are a really manufactured band! Not that there is always something wrong with that. I like The Saturdays…in small doses. I still wasn’t prepared for what came next.

The arguably most famous band member Frankie Sandford has featured as a guest vocaliat in a song by the ever-rising rock band Kids In Glass Houses! That is something I have never imagined would happen.

Undercover Lover is Kids In Glass Houses new and third single, from their second album The Dirt. It isn’t “manufactured” in the sense I used to describe The Saturdays. Apparently the band met Frankie Sandford and invited her to be involved on the track. With knowing that they chose it to be this way, I listened to their new single anyway.

Sandford’s soprano vocals sound like a girl-pop something added to those of Aled Phillips, Kids In Glass Houses’ lead singer and frontman, to help the latter band experiment for their new album and see where it goes. Maybe they are getting bored from the vocal range of a male and want to try something new to expand? Maybe they wanted to spice up their image and work with musicians which are even better known in the mainstream, as a way of further breaking into it?

The question is, was it a lowering step for a seemingly rising rock band to join forces with a manufactured pop artist who, by either fault of the genre or of the band itself, which Kid’s In Glass Houses fans would not typically listen to on their own? The listener needs to remember that the Welsh rockers do have various pop influences, although to have someone feature that will directly increase that influence could be a hard balance to get right.

Did they pick the right “Saturdays” girl?

The single itself answers all of these questions. The overall tone is so pleasant and pleasing because together they are a good harmony. She brings a deeper pop element to the song which is obvious but it’s in a good way. It’s a complement to the arrangement and it’s a modern twist to what could have been just another alternative-rock song.

Her range is perfect for it and it just goes to show that there can be good things from manufactured bands, for those who are strictly against them. Giving Frankie Sandford’s musical history including a stint in child star band S Club 8 it is proof that her voice has been professionally trained which is always good for singers! Sandford even tries to rock up her abilities-have a listen to the catchy chorus that proves it. Catchy choruses are always something so brilliant of Kids In Glass Houses.

It is different from former songs by the band. They are still keeping their upbeat rock roots but Undercover Lover and previous single If It Matters At All, is a definite message of changes to come with experimentations in their new album. Expect more than guitars and drums together because a new vibe might be surfacing.

The radio edit version of Undercover Lover featuring Frankie Sandford will be out June 13^th. The album version is available now if you can’t wait.

Whatever your opinions of manufactured music and pop and rock collaborations, still listen to this track anyway and don’t let me put you off, because it does sound better than how it is on paper.

Short URL: http://newbeatsmedia.com/?p=2883

Writen by Clare-Louise Roberts

Posted on Fri 16th July 2010 and filed under Singles.

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