Fitzsimon and Brogan: “The Girl Who Shouted Love at the Heart of the World” is ridiculously infectious!
Songwriter Neil Fitzsimon, and vocalist Bee Brogan were once part of the band, Pretty Blue Gun, who were signed to an indie label, licensed to Sony. Some of the guest musicians included members of The Art of Noise, Dave Bronze (Eric Clapton’s bass player), Tobias Boshell (Moody Blues) and Pip Williams, who played guitar on the Walker Brothers’ track, ‘No Regrets’. The albums were produced by Pat Collier, who produced Katrina and the Waves’ international hit, ‘Walking on Sunshine’. The two have since gone on to form the songwriting/production partnership now known as FaB (Fitzsimon and Brogan). They have delivered Film and TV placements, charted songs, and have also written a musical called Jack Dagger, which was showcased at the Greenwich Theatre, London for the Musical Futures Award. More importantly, Fitzsimon and Brogan have released their brand new album “The Girl Who Shouted Love at the Heart of the World”, featuring the single, “This is Love.”
All songs are written by Neil Fitzsimon, who also plays all the guitars. Vocals, keyboards, drums and engineering are handled by Bee Brogan. The album starts off with a catchy melody and addictive rhythm on the opening song, “This Is Love” before it cuts loose into the rocking fun song “Bliss”.
It’s upbeat, all-too-easy to get caught-up in, and the hook throws you over a cliff every time. Pretty much the captivating blueprint for every subsequent musical chapter on this 15 track album. For all the bands out there that are trying to bring back 80s pop and new wave (and there really are a lot, for better or for worse), FaB (Fitzsimon and Brogan) is its own beast.
Many of us already know “Big Blue World”, their ambitious album from last year, or the singles they dropped in between, but it’s the consistency in their playing and production, the willingness to sing honest lyrics, and their flawless knack for writing ridiculously infectious hooks that keep them on top.
Fitzsimon and Brogan do what so few bands can do: they manage to avoid being a one-song wonder, while refusing to compromise their integrity as artists. And the evidence is all over this album – from the gritty “Swoon”, to the delightfully jangly “Screamersville”, or the slow bluesy burn of “Privilege”.
Not to be missed, is the sprawling strummed rhythm of “This Girl”, the elegantly orchestrated “Smashing Time”, and the delicate intensity of “The Girl Who Shouted Love – At The Heart Of The World”.
On this album, Fitzsimon and Brogan seem inclined more than ever to convert casual listeners into devoted fans, with both intimate and universal cross-generational diatribes, lyrical clarity, and pop music with a message of pride for what this project represents in the modern music world.
All of which can be gauged on the impacting, “Shall I Count The Ways” and the downtempo, acoustic closer, “Early Frost”. Fitzsimon and Brogan are never cryptic in their endeavors; their lyrics are straightforward, the music is fully fleshed out, and infectious to the core.
The indelible truth is that FaB’s presence in this generation of popular and mainstream music, sticks out like a sore thumb…in the best possible way!
