GENE Olympian (Costermonger)


What sad times are these when criminally overrated no-marks like Elastica 
can pillage freely from just about anybody who recorded anything in 1977, 
yet Gene get castigated by the press for being open and honest about 
liking a particular mid-80s Mancunian beat combo who shall remain 
nameless in the interest of fair and balanced reviewing, especially after 
making an album as downright wonderful as "Olympian".
Maybe it was due to previously hearing their blistering live set during 
Radio 1’s recent Sound City shenanigans (I was waiting for the Orb, 
honestly officer), but Gene really are good. They write gorgeously mellow 
songs with real tunes and insightful, humorous, only slightly coded 
lyrics, that bring to mind (apart from the obvious) Suede’s first few 
singles, especially on the crashing album highlight and recent single 
"Sleep Well Tonight", whilst the spirit of Morrissey’s long-forgotten 
career peak "Kill Uncle" is evoked on the jaunty "Still Can’t Find The 
Phone". Steve Mason’s mature guitar playing, part Johnny Marr, part 
Bernard Butler, amazes throughout, as do little touches like the string 
arrangement towards the end of the towering title track. And if Martin 
Rossiter’s lyrics are a bit low on quotable quotes, it’s only because 
the beauty of his writing can’t be compressed into graffiti-friendly 
phrases. A great album, and a must-hear for legions of disaffected 
Smiths fans. Oops, what a giveaway...


Gene 
Olympian 
Polydor/A&M 

The latest in a seemingly endless string of one-word English pop bands 
with ambitions of conquering America, Gene wears its heart, and Smiths 
influences, on its collective sleeve. Fronted by the somewhat 
narcissistic Martin Rossiter, Gene casts a longing, over-the-shoulder 
glance at the days when melodies ruled and folks really cared about what 
poor Morrissey was going through. Gene has an impressive gift for writing 
catchy, sometimes glorious, pop songs that convey that distinctly English 
desperation. 
- Robert Levine 


A Stunning Debut
andy w jones

When this album was released in 1995, reviews in the indie press 
criticised it for sounding similar to the Smiths. The irony is that the 
same critics were praising Oasis to the heavens for their music which is 
even more derivative than this impressive debut. The truth is that this 
album is an accomplished debut and that the songs are much more than mere 
Smiths facsimiles. From the rocking opener "Haunted by You" to the mellow 
"We'll find our own way" this is an album characterised by the soothing, 
warm voice of Martin Rossiter and the smooth guitar work of Steve Mason. 
My favourite tracks are the emotional "London Can you wait?" and the 
spell-binding title-track "Olympian" which builds from an almost hypnotic 
bass-line into a crashing, spine-tingling climax. The only disappointment 
I experienced when I purchased this album is that the early single "Be my 
light, be my guide" wasn't included. Despite this, it is a stunning debut 
album, and despite their lack of chart success, Gene are still a great 
live band.



www.lewisslade.com/genemusic