Suggested Friends - Turtle Taxi - LP (2019)

Labels: Fika Recordings – HHBTM Records
Review by: MH

I’ve just learnt that Turtle Taxi is a taxi service in Japan that allows you to dictate the pace of the journey by letting the driver know they’re going too fast or slow by means of a button that signals with a musical chime and turtle illustration. Brilliant. Also, when Suggested Friends filmed the video for the title track they used tortoises as turtles are a bit harder to come by in certain locations and luckily their friend homes tortoises (in Uxbridge!). Also brilliant. I’ve often tried to explain the difference between a turtle and a tortoise to my 4 year old with limited success. Same goes for crocodiles and alligators. My son, who’s 1, thinks a hippopotamus is the same as a pig though so it’s not that easy.

Now, with “Turtle Taxi”, I’d say this is a slightly softer record than their debut which was a little more raw. Also, there are horns here and there, big hooks, harmonies and guitar solos aplenty. In fact, I didn’t realise I liked horns or guitar solos but this record tells me I do. It’s laden with quality songs from the opening pairing of the wistful “Imminent” and the nostalgic imagery of “Cygnets” which are both excellent slices of power pop through to the closing pairing of the resilient “For Jokes” and the slower but no less powerful “Magnolia”. Lots in between too – the title track and “Pretty Soon Your Grave Will Be A Landfill” shouldn’t miss a mention. Likely to be listening to this one a lot this year.