10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT - STEPHEN EVENS: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH ALBUM By John Robbins

1)The Cover

Hilarious. Stephen Gilchrist, the man behind Stephen Evens, gets into character as his alter ego before he plays a note. With a touch of Blue Steel attitude, a generous smudge of powder blue eye shadow and prodigious amounts of red lipstick, the suited and presumably booted Gilchrist gazes out at us from the cover, clearly ready to get to work.

2)The Title

‘Employee of the Month’ is the perfect name for an album all about escaping the drudgery of 9-5 existence and sticking two fingers up to the man.

3)The Cast

Stephen is one of annoyingly talented people who can play pretty much everything, and as well as writing much everything here he also lays down some heavy handed drumming, nimble guitar work and, of course, the characterful vocals. He has also, however, assembled a coterie of impressive talent to help out on the album. Regular Stephen Evens band members Jimi Scandal of REAL(S) (and many other bands) and Jen Macro of Hurtling and My Bloody Valentine’s touring bolster the guitar assault, alongside Ham Legion’s Nicholas J. Howiantz Jnr on bass. Anna Dodridge and Caroline Gilchrist from Hot Sauce Pony join as guests too, as do William D Drake of Cardiacs and Gabi Garbutt, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg really.

4)‘Dustbin Man’

First up is the anthemic ‘Dustbin Man’, a touching tribute to the working man and woman, as the Tory government heaps more and more shit on them from a great height. Beats clapping any day of the week.

5)‘Push Yr Thumb In Yr Eye’

After the solidarity and generous goodwill in evidence on the track one, it’s quite satisfying to encounter a bit of aggro on the next one. “You’re such a dirty little hog,” sings Stephen, “and I’d love to see you fry.” We’d love to know who he was singing about, as the band hit a slow, heavy grind.

6)William D Drake's Guest Spot On ‘Freakshow’

Anyone familiar with outsider cult heroes Cardiacs will immediately recognise the magical touch of William D Drake’s piano playing on this, one of two quieter breathers situated around the middle of the album.

7)George & Kathleen

This album has plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and after some of the heavier moments in the first half, the last thing we were expecting was a folk song with heaps of gooey romance contained within it. Particular mentions of honour to Elizabeth Calfe (cello) and Fiona Harrison (classical guitar), whose contributions lend the song some serious Nick Drake-style resonance.

8)‘I Hate Shop(I Am Shop)’

Kate Arnolds, Anna Dodridge, Gabi Garbutt, Caroline Gilchrist and Katie Wilson are all credited with backing vocals on this lurching, raucous, swaggerfest, really bringing it to life. There were a few sore throats the day after this, you’d have to guess.

9)‘Career Criminal'

One of the more low key songs, lurking near the end of the album, but with its neat groove and catchy chorus (“they gave me nine years”) it’s one of our favourites.

10)The Day I Burned My House Down

All great albums have to have a show stopping last track and the one that brings ‘Employee of the Month’ to a close is certainly a corker. Nicola Baigent on tenor and baritone saxes adds the extra ingredient as Howiantz, Macro and Scandal set the controls to epic. Nice work.

Text by John Robbins
Employee of the Month is available on CD/ Digital and vinyl from 
August on the ONOMATOPOEIA label.

09/07/2020