World Party – Dumbing Up

 

World Party – Dumbing Up

By

Jesse E. Mullen

 

Most bands, by nature, have multiple members. Even groups with high turnover can be considered bands. Heck, The Fall had over 50 members filter through the group, and no one questioned their band status. But World Party is different.

Karl Wallinger is a multi-instrumentalist from Prestatyn, Wales. He got his start as keyboardist in The Waterboys before forming World Party in 1985. However, World Party was no ordinary band. Wallinger assumed the role of total auteur, preferring to record all instruments himself rather than working within a group context.

This led to an overabundance of synthesizers on World Party’s debut Private Revolution. But on Goodbye Jumbo, Wallinger hit his stride. Released in 1990 to rave reviews, Goodbye Jumbo proved that Wallinger could mix his influences into something original.

The album tackled the sounds of funk, ELO-styled psychedelic pop, and ‘80s Prince. Wallinger’s dedicated cult had to be wondering – where could he go from here? Turns out, all over the musical map.

World Party’s next two albums – Bang! and Egyptology – contained multitudes of stylistic shifts. From Scottish folk, to hard rock, to McCartney-esque balladry, Wallinger was establishing himself as a master craftsman. As great as they were, neither album quite measured up to Goodbye Jumbo as a whole.

Wallinger released a new World Party album in 2000. The record – entitled Dumbing Up – was bound to excite fans of Wallinger’s songwriting. But the question remained – could Wallinger follow up Goodbye Jumbo and release something equally enticing?

On opener “Another 1000 Years,” Wallinger evokes the sound of John Lennon’s Magical Mystery Tour compositions. Wallinger even sings in the same range as Lennon. The lyrics are surreal and reference the ending of Pulp Fiction. A whirlwind start, but things only get more exciting.

Wallinger’s Prince love is back on the upbeat “Here Comes The Future.” Featuring falsetto vocals, a hip hop interlude, and Wallinger’s funky guitar leads, the track is almost unparalleled in the World Party universe.

To shake things up further, the album also has two piano ballads – “Santa Barbara” and “Always On My Mind.” In “Santa Barbara,” Wallinger looks back on fond memories with the wisdom of an older man. The sparse arrangement only highlights Wallinger’s underrated abilities as a storyteller.

“Always On My Mind” is something else entirely. It retains the sparse arrangement of “Santa Barbara,” but uses the opposite approach. Rather than looking back nostalgically, Wallinger is looking at the present with contempt. Throughout the song he tackles religion, inauthenticity, and politicians who go back on campaign promises.

“High Love” is perhaps the romantic highlight of the album. Wallinger had written great love songs previously – most notably “She’s The One,” but also “Love Street” and “All I Gave.” “High Love” goes a step further however, by being cinematic in scope, both lyrically and in the arrangement.

A subtle drumbeat and lap steel guitar kick off the proceedings. Wallinger’s voice enters, and he introduces us to the woman of his affection. He saw her from the stage, in the audience at one of his shows. It was love at first sight.

Once the chorus hits however, the song goes up a notch. The listener is surrounded by the adrenaline rush of lush strings and Wallinger’s smooth voice. Pop balladry of this caliber is rare in modern times, but Wallinger nails it, both vocally and from a production standpoint.

As the song progresses however, we begin to realize that not all is right in the relationship. He says his “high love is on the rocks,” both a statement on his relationship and a sly reference to drinking one’s troubles away.

It’s easy to picture the song at the climax of a drama or romantic comedy film. The part when the man has messed up royally and must work quickly and tacitly to regain the woman’s trust. But unlike the movies, Wallinger never tells the audience whether or not things worked out.

Some artists are outright plagiarists while others blend their influences together so well that they create an original sound. Karl Wallinger is one of the latter artists. His World Party project always produced fascinating music but Dumbing Up may be his magnum opus.

Seaview/2000