The arrival of the indie pop and glistening coolness of Cool Charisma by Sean MacLeod comes with the type of easy-going confidence that the title implies, a perfect example of an indie pop tune that knows how to build the structure of the perfect hook. The ex-leader at Cisco has created something that is both nostalgic and immediate as he has based it on the melodic sensibilities of Beatles and Beach Boys and retained a very modern quality.
The guitar riffs in the song are catchy and they take root at once creating a glowing backbone that holds the mellifluous melody of MacLeod with accuracy. The difference between this and regular indie fare is the focus on arrangement--those transitions between pre-chorus and chorus are not formulaic, but they create momentum and can be listened to repeatedly by rewarding repeated play. It is pushed along by solid, unobtrusive energy of the upbeat drumming, leaving the melodic elements to shine without being overpowered by it.
The call and response chorus of MacLeod is an indication of an actual knowledge of pop craft. It is the type of earworm that implants itself organically, and is meant to promote movement without making it feel like it is being forced. It is a music that knows its catchiness and does not over sell something that is already doing so well.
The style of MacLeod is especially interesting as he is able to make it thorough and accessible at the same time. Though on the surface, Cool Charisma is a pleasure of pure indie pop, his history of incorporating folk, classical and even avant-garde elements into the traditional pop formulas means that there is always something interesting happening under the immediate hooks. The fact that he has recorded with the former producer of U2, Paul Barrett, and the sheer level of critical acclaim that he has earned makes him an informed artist- this is a man who knows how to shine as well as to be substantial.
To people who are attracted to the sensibilities of indie pop through the Irish prism, Cool Charisma is exactly what it claims to be; catchy, superbly structured, and thoroughly entertaining. MacLeod has made something of classic pop tradition that at the same time is distinctly his own.
