Le Cube – ’45 Tours N#1’ (Megaphone Music) Released 20/11/06

If Julien (‘LeCube’) Barbagallo seems to live by one philosophy, it is to get as much out of music and life as possible. After performing with a number of bands, ’45 Tours No. 1,’ marks LeCube’s debut solo release, and is the first edition of a three part ‘album’. The lead track, ‘Shoot The Nanny,’ certainly embodies the word experimental - with the sound of birdsong, a coin dropping and sleigh bells all making very subtle appearances. However, the songs gentle country acoustic rhythm and sporadic blues riff, means they almost float by unnoticed. Although at times Barabagallo’s voice sounds so brittle that it might snap, if it were any stronger the song just wouldn’t work. It’s unfortunate therefore, that the EP is let down by ‘Creatures,’ which after a promising upbeat sixties start, suddenly converts into quaint but faint acoustic song. This abrupt fracturing of two different sounds therefore leaves a frustrating feeling of apathy, rather than anticipation for part two of this series.