Goodbye Gadget  - Because, I'm not myself you see

‘Because I’m not myself you see’, the debut album/EP from Californian Alt popsters Goodbye Gadget, is certainly a more intriguing and arresting listen than first impressions may suggest. At first taste, the five piece (who have recently expanded their ranks to incorporate keyboards into their Bass-Drums-Guitar-Vocals combo) could be perceived as (Just) another bubblegum pop/rock band, drenched in synths and breezy melodies; and while there is a degree of truth in this, repeat listens, along with a glance at the lyric booklet, reveal something darkly profound behind the easily digestible veneer.

Smothered in the bright guitar work and consummate pop sensibility lies a heart of dark reminiscence and catharsis, from the deceptively harrowing lyrical content of effervescent opener ‘Sugar and Sinnamon’ to the understated balladry of the title track and keyboard led finale, ‘Missing.’ Packed with melody and addictive hooks, the album’s flirtatious dabblings in electronica and dashes of pop punk guitar may not appeal to all, but those prepared to put their preconceptions on ice and give it a few spins may well find something more moving and memorable than they’d expected, (I readily admit to falling into this category myself.) Ana Isabel’s sultry, soulful vocals have understandably gained recent comparisons to No Doubt era Gwen Stefani, and it must be said that the five-piece pack a notable degree of star quality.

Goodbye Gadget seem to be one of those fabled ‘Marmite’ bands then … It would be difficult to imagine a listener not holding a strong opinion about the album’s quality one way or the other. Ultimately the only way to decide is to give it a listen for yourself, and for my part, I strongly recommend you do… Those who love it will really love it.