Paul pales

Press, 22 May 1986, Page 10

Paul pales

PAUL HARDCASTLE “Paul* Hardcastle” (Chrysalis L38491).Ye5, it’s Paul Hardcastle, the one-hit wonder of “19” fame, which is about the age of his music. All music written, performed and produced by Paul Hardcastle, say the sleeve notes. That is. lucky for anyone else who might have thought of joining. Carol Kenyon and Kevin Henry are featured separately on two tracks, and their fine voices are reduced to mediocrity, which seems to sum up the whole album.

Unfortunately, "19” reduces the Vietnam War to trivia. — the music appears to have been brought home in a body bag. This sensational rubbish is only made more sensational by people ac-

tually buying it. The war is far more complex than this single can possibly judge.

Hardcastle’s somewhat dubious choice of topic also extends to the Great Train Robbery in “Just For Money.” Done in the same scratch style as “19,” it is barely tolerable after what Malcolm McLaren has done.

An improvement is “Don’t Waste My Time,” with Carol Kenyon, but the lyrics are a dead loss. Most of the remaining tracks are moody synth pieces (“Moonhopper,” “Strollin,” and “Rainforest”) which are merely ho-hum. To paraphrase Paul Young, I hope some-, one comes along and pulls this Hardcastle down.— NEVIN TOPP.