THE HIPSTONES – DREAMERS

Lounge music is a difficult art form to do well – it is so easy for the listener to tune out; if the music is too cozy and smooth, it becomes a bed of background noise, relegated to the status of dinner soundtrack rather than an artwork that holds up to scrutiny. Despite their clear musical competencies, this CD from The Hipstones suffers from this syndrome. After all, their slick grooves and Carpenters-esque jazz harmonies are admirably tight, and Mark  Palmer’s piano glues it all together with chunky precision; but something still feels amiss here. Their mission is one of pure neo-50’s musical escapism; witness the day-glo fantasy Let’s Take A Holiday and the acid grooves of Spread It All Around, where we’re taken on a 70’s bender of art chords and game-show-style, razzle-dazzle horns. The best moment here is the gently earnest Better Not Take Too Long, almost touching on Dylan’s gospel-era dirges. Their vocals and arrangements are impeccable to be sure – but even so, this type of sentimental jazz still feels like it’s sitting on the couch, rather than standing up for its cause.

**1/2