Introducing Wonder 45

My friend William was raving about a new band called Wonder 45. I checked them out and could see why! Wonder 45 are fresh out the wrapper and perfectly formed. Gorgeous soul, top class musicians and vocals that just grab you. The band started as an instrumental recording project and grew from there.

I asked William if he fancied writing a blog .... and he has. Enjoy!

Introducing - Wonder 45

Guest blog by William Thomas

Sometimes a band comes along which just jumps out from the crowd, demanding to be noticed – it’s a rare but unmistakeable feeling for listeners. The needle hits the groove and the music just… crackles.

It can either be an indefinable quality, or clear as day. Wonder 45 are firmly in the latter category -everything hits right, the band is tight, the melodies effervescent, the production crisp and warm.

This London soul ensemble started out life as producer/writer Holley Gray, guitarist Ross Ewart, drummer Chris Nickolls and keyboard player Steve Pringle.

They’ve since been enhanced by singer/songwriters Jess Greenfield and Gavin Conder and the outfit have since gathered real momentum with their first gig only happening in January this year. You would never know, such is the assured nature of everything they do.

From their studio cuts too, the manifesto is clear. You can hear the authentic, classic influences coming through loud and clear, but there’s a sharp, fresh pop sensibility too. If you were thinking of another band which had immediately turned its retro influences into earworm gold, then Oasis might spring to mind.

It’s an apposite comparison, because songwriter and vocalist Greenfield is also a key member of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, providing affecting backing vocals, keyboards, and percussion both live and in the studio.

Given Noel’s high bar for fellow band members, that’s an endorsement to be proud of, and it has clearly given her a strong platform to spread her wings further with her own musical ambitions.

Greenfield brings that high flying, arena-filling prowess accrued over the last six years to Wonder 45 in spades with standout vocals on the likes of Cry – a gritty, passionate cri de coeur to hold onto love through both bad times and good – the swinging Nothing’s Gonna Change, and Superman which immediately commands attention with its powerful rhythm section and lyric that pays tribute to not settling for a love that’s anything less than heroic.

Conder is no vocal slouch either on Wonderland where the barriers to true love are cast aside with a soaring chorus.

Cry - live studio session

Make It Happen is meanwhile an unapologetic wah-wah guitar-driven note to self, reminiscent of Sly and The Family Stone in their pomp. Carpe diem, grab the opportunity, whatever you want to call it – it’s an inspiring, propulsive crowd-pleaser addressed to anyone resting on their laurels delivered with funk and fun. There is brass in abundance – driving organ, and whip cracking percussion all the way.

Collectively, the singles display a wide, scintillating repertoire of styles, all delivered with complete confidence and melodic panache. Here, you’ll find drama, pathos, lust, longing, and all points in between. Most importantly, each track fizzes with intent, and you wouldn’t be surprised if Wonder 45 very quickly find their career launched into orbit.

The band have undoubtedly released a steady procession of consistently great songs in recent times – all of which have caught the attention of, and made waves with, a long list of prominent radio names, culminating in what is already sure to be an instant classic debut LP Wonderland out on 31 May via Big-AC Records.

Wonderland - live studio session

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Edinburgh Playhouse

Ten years have passed since I last saw Noel Gallagher live. He was still in Oasis, playing at the SECC, but he didn't give the impression he wanted to be there.

Last night, the contrast was stark. In the wonderful setting of the Edinburgh Playhouse Noel Gallagher was full of energy, helped by his (at times) 11-piece band and lifted by a crowd in splendid voice.

There were horn players, 4 backing singers at times, keyboards, percussion - and yes the scissors did make an appearance during She Taught Me How To Fly.

My brother came up trumps with tickets in the 4th row and after a lengthy wait at the bar to stock up on beers we got to our seats in time to catch the last few songs of Gaz Coombes set. Gaz was looking as super cool as ever, sounding even better. His last two albums have been sensational and it was great to see Gaz and his band blast through Detroit with Coombes conducting his backing singers.

On to the main event. An intro playlist blasted out northern soul, a bit of The Jam and a wonderful psychedelic cover version of Eleanor Rigby that I'll need to search for later.

The full lights went up for a couple of minutes and then dropped, the venue descended into darkness as Noel and his High Flying Birds strode on to the stage.

And oh how they flew last night. Ripping through Fort Knox and Holy Mountain to get things going, before a brief pause and into Beautiful World and then She Taught Me How To Fly. We then had 2 new songs; single Black Star Dancing which had a good live groove to it considering it is such an early outing and Rattling Rose, introduced as a b-side, but no-one knows what a b-side is these days as no-one buys an f**king records! 

The place then erupted as Noel went on to play an Oasis b-side

Noel spotted a young boy in the third row just along from us and asked how old he was. 8 was the answer and Noel said he would be far too young to know the next song, introducing Talk Tonight as 'one for people wearing anoraks.' He then spotted someone just along from the young lad who was much older and who was wearing an anorak. Noel even got him to put up his hood.

It was a wonderful full band version of Talk Tonight and the Edinburgh Playhouse sung heartily and soulfully along. Then it was into The Importance Of Being Idle before a truly stunning Little By Little with a classic huge Gallagher bridge into the chorus that was belted out, arms were raised aloft, the sky was punched and friends embraced to sing-a-long.

There are plenty of people who dislike or just don't get Noel's genius, or they think it is cool to dislike him. But if they had been at the show for this moment then they couldn't deny his songwriting and unique ability to generate terrace style anthems. It was spine tingling.

Back to the crowd and Noel's comment about 'anoraks', having previously called Liam's fans 'parka monkeys'. The crowd was very mixed in age and sex, there were plenty of anoraks/cagoules and the odd Liam/Weller haircut, but by in large this was a very different crowd to a Liam show - and I think that suits Noel down to the ground.

My favourite song from Noel's solo output is Dead In The Water, the last track on Who Built The Moon, recorded while he was in a radio studio. I'd pay good money for a night of Noel Gallagher armed only with an acoustic guitar and a microphone. Noel's voice was beautiful, all melancholic and tender but capable of rising with feeling and soul for the chorus.

Let the storm rage, I'd die on the waves

But I will not rest while love lies dead in the water

Noel seemed taken aback by the audience response as every single person in the room seemed to be singing along with him. It's up there with his best songs.

I'll not run through every song, but I have to mention the last 4 before the encore. A sensational run of The Masterplan, Wonderwall, Half The World Away and Stop Crying Your Heart Out which Noel introduced by saying he was going to play the demo version.

I took time to turn round and look at the crowd, a sea of smiles, of hugs, of euphoria, of people lost in the escapism and romanticism of some of Noel's best songs. Three tiers of emotion and love for the songwriter and his songs. It was a beautiful sight and a beautiful noise.

There was more to come. A romp through What A Life! and a glorious Don't Look Back In Anger before ending with a cover of The Beatles All You Need Is Love.

25-years ago last month I saw Oasis for the first time at the Tramway in Glasgow. It's been a rollercoaster ride, some skyscraping highs, a few lows and plenty of loops and spins along the way.

Last night rekindled my love for Noel and his songs. His new stuff sounds even better live than on record, he played with real energy, his band were superb and he has an unique catalogue of songs to delve into to keep things fresh for him and his fans.

My brother and I reminisced on the way home about seeing Oasis at the Barrowland Ballroom back in December 1994 when Liam walked off after 4 songs and Noel played acoustic before the band backed him at the end. We got an early glimpse into his genius as a songwriter and a leader, we still talk of his version of Slide Away that night. All he has ever wanted to do is write and play songs, he is over the nonsense that came with Oasis, of touring with Liam and the stress that brings.

Keep on chasing down that rainbow

You never know what you might find

Noel Gallagher announces debut album

Noel Gallagher held a press conference at high noon today to announce his debut album 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' in October, with a tour to follow.


Indulging in his more 'experimental' side, Noel also announced that a second album, which is a continuation of his collaboration with Amorphous Androgynous, will be released in 2012.

The tracklisting for the debut album is;

1. Everybody's On The Run

2. Dream On

3. If I Had A Gun...

4. The Death Of You And Me

5. (I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine

6. AKA... What A Life!

7. Soldier Boys And Jesus Freaks

8. AKA... Broken Arrow

9. (Stranded On) The Wrong Beach

10. Stop The Clocks

Several of the tracks have been widely available on YouTube for quite some time, so lets check them out;


Everybody's On The Run may well have been written on the last Oasis tour judging by the recordings from soundchecks. Noel's soothing vocals ache with feeling.

If I Had A Gun - this sounds like it was recorded in the very early stages of the songs creation, gentle lulling chords and vocals with Noel humming some of the melody and allowing it to fall away. I imagine it will sound a lot more epic when recorded.

I Wanna Live In A Dream In My Record Machine was recorded for the last Oasis album Dig Out Your Soul, either failing to make the cut, or mor likely being kept back by Noel who probably realised that the band had no future. This is my personal favourite from the tracks doing the rounds. The middle eight section is classic Noel.

You can't give me a reason I want me want to shine

You can't give me the feelings cos they're already mine

You get one in a million and if the sun won't rise

On my soul, then I'll go

Stop the Clocks - Noel was/is so fond of this song that an Oasis compilation released in 2006 had this as the title. However it was never released under the guise of his former band. Noel's voice sounds wistful and longing;

Lock the box and leave it all behind

On the backseat of my mind

And when the night is over

Where will I rise? 

As someone who first saw Oasis supporting the Boo Radleys at Glasgow Sound City in 1994, I've followed the band on their rollercoaster ride; the highs of 94-96, the considerable let down that was 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants, I've been to gigs where Liam walked off, the band walked off, I was at their T in the Park gig in the tent in 1994 when they played football on stage, in the front pit at Knebworth.....


I still take an interest in what Liam and Noel do as I know what they are capable of musically and I personally love their sense of humour and interviews. I am fully aware that they are not everyone's cup of tea, indeed I was pretty down on them myself for a while. However they have a charisma that lifts them above so many other acts out there. I for one am really looking forward to hearing what Noel has to offer.


I think that big brother might just remind Liam where the real songwriting talent in the Gallagher lies. The singing isn't bad either!


Read my review of the Beady Eye album HERE