Peter Hall Gets Physical

By Henry Lipput

When Peter Hall released his digital EP There’s Something Wrong With Everyone back in January on Bandcamp I immediately bought a download. This wonderful mix of melancholy pop and a few 70’s influences fit very well in my musical wheelhouse and it didn’t hurt that Hall‘s voice is gentle and welcoming. As for my definition of melancholy, a song has to have a mix of lyrics and music that may in theory work against each other but also provide a happy/sad feeling. And There's Something Wrong With Everyone has that going for it big time.

The EP has now been released as a CD with an additional track by The Beautiful Music label out of Canada. So if you’re like me, a fan of physical releases because that’s what you grew up with, then this is the purchase of the EP you need to get.

I didn’t know much about the work that Hall had done in the past (it turns out he was in a band called Play People who recorded a couple of EPs and a single) but it was the songs on There’s Something Wrong With Everyone that made me want to have this collection.

The sound of the opening track “Hold On” seems to me to owe more than a little to the late, great Emitt Rhodes and the occasional keyboard reminds me of Paul McCartney’s little-known gem “Arrow Through Me” from Back To The Egg. “Blood Flow” sounds like a Chris Bell song from Big Star’s  #1 Record with its 70’s guitars and there’s also some terrific organ that provides fills and a coda at the end.

The chamber pop of “Everything Is Fading Fast” brings to mind the gentle sound of “Your Love Is Forever” from George Harrison’s self-titled solo album. And “She Fell From The Sky” is just gorgeous and is over much too soon. 

As for the bonus track on the CD, you’ll just have to buy it yourself to find out. You won't be disappointed.

Next time: Two from Futureman Records: Brandi Ediss and Coke Belda