ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: From Out Of Nowhere (POP,Rock): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

This is an album that certainly few people expected. If Electric Light Orchestra left its mark on the 70's, it slowly faded away during the following decade until it signed its dissolution act in 1986. Dissolution but not real disappearance because from one entity were going to be born two. On the one hand Bev Bevan, the drummer, created the ephemeral ELO Part II. On the other hand, Jeff Lynne resuscitated ELO in 2001 with "Zoom", in reality a solo album in collaboration with 2 ex-Beatles and Richard Tandy, and recurred in 2015 with "Alone in the Universe" under the more explicit name of Jeff Lynne's ELO in which, as on this "From Out Of Nowhere" which interests us today, Jeff Lynne is almost the only interpreter.

If there is one thing that can be heard from the very first measures, it is that nobody will be able to contest to Jeff Lynne the fact to be the true leader of Electric Light Orchestra and to be the only one to deserve to use the name of the group. As the only composer, or not much else, of all ELO's tracks, his characteristic style is immediately recognizable: we find these easily addictive melodies nested in a shimmering pop, rich in synthetic string arrangements (the string trio that originally operated has long since disappeared) and full of those choruses that are the trademark of the band that became one man band.

If the seduction of tracks that are pleasant to listen to is easily imposed - ELO's regulars will instantly find their bearings and new listeners will easily be convinced by the charm of this light and singing pop - they also leave a tenacious impression of already heard: since "A New World Record", Jeff Lynne repeats with more or less happiness the same recipe and, if the second half of "From Out Of Nowhere" is rather successful (in particular the tetralogy going from 'Losing You' to 'Goin' Out On Me'), the first titles sin by a false dynamism and end by some fade out that seem to prove the lack of inspiration of Jeff Lynne.

In short, don't expect any surprises, neither good nor really bad, from this new album. For those who like well-made pop in general and Electric Light Orchestra in particular, "From Out Of Nowhere" is rather pleasant to listen to, the only question being "was this record really essential to ELO's discography ?". - Official website

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

FROM OUT OF NOWHERE

COLUMBIA

POP