James Crosbie Hancox - The Girl With The Sun In Her Eyes

Hear The Track Here

Like most of us, James Crosbie Hancox loves it when a plan comes together. Listen to him waxing lyrical about how this song was written 'I was going through a real dry spell as a writer and was sitting in my house when the title came to me. It was at this moment I picked up my guitar and played these chords, the whole thing was written and recorded and mixed in around 2 hours. Every take is first time' Good eh? Now do you hate him as much as I do? It is very rare that I have those moments, most tracks seem to take forever to make, but when they do happen, like James, I am ecstatic about it. Of course, when I go and listen to it the next morning its still the usual dreck I come up with, but that's my curse not Mr Hancox, his curse is being reviewed by me.

Given James's usual very English sound, The Girl With The Sun In Her Eyes, sounds surprisingly American and - better yet - doesn't sound like it was put together in a couple of hours with everything done with one take, but that's what the man says. What generally gets me about JCH's tracks is that they contain a song, a well rounded, well put together by-God song. Indeed it's one of this musicians greatest strengths and is responsible for him getting a string of highly recommendeds from me. Having said that, as much as I like the retro, instant pop that this track is wrapped around, I'm not so sure that the overall thing has the same impact as some of his previous tracks.

Mind you, if you have a thing about the birth of rock and all sounds 1960's, here's the track you've been looking for. From the Farfisa organ sound, to the jangly guitars and straightforward, workmanlike drums this is a feast of past influences, bringing up all sorts of musical memories. Put it like this, if this were the Swinging Sixties, then James Crosbie Hancox would be discovered playing at Butlins and this track would be part of his ode to the Great British Summer, and the happy campers would just lap it up. So, as I say, rich in period detail, and that's the draw for me because I have heard better songs from this composer but I tell you what, this is a good track for you to make his acquaintance with.

Recommended period pop.