Bell X1
by Taryn Wallis
photo: file photo Bell X1
Named after the plane in which Chuck Yeager became the first to break the sound barrier, Bell X1 released their début album, Neither Am I, in 2000. In their native Ireland, the Bellies are second only to U2 in terms of airplay and size of audiences at their live performances. Internationally, the band’s popularity is on the increase, with their introduction to the US occurring when their song Eve, the Apple of my Eye received significant attention after being featured in the infamous lesbian kiss scene in season two of the TV show The O.C.
As a result of their origins in a band called Juniper, which consisted of the three current members of Bell X1 – Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty, and Dominic Philips – plus Damien Rice and Brian Crosby, Bell X1’s first album included songs co-written with Damien Rice and performed previously with Juniper.
While there were some original songs on Neither Am I, it was only in Bell X1’s subsequent albums that they were really able to start fleshing out their own sound, and exploring different styles. Music in Mouth (2003) contained a mixture of the dreamy ballads and upbeat quirky songs for which Bell X1 are well known, and which have been further developed and refined on Flock (2005), Blue Lights on the Runway (2009), Bloodless Coup (2011), and the newly released Chop Chop (2013). Along the way, the band has experimented with a more electronic sound to their music, though their latest album represents a return to simple pure instrumentation.
Whatever style the band is exploring, however, there are some common threads that permeate the Bellies’ career:
- Bell X1 has the best lyrics. Ever. It may be the magical way with words and talent for story-telling that seems built into the Irish DNA. Or it may be Paul Noonan’s ability to view the world on a both a macro and micro scale, capturing the things that define humanity as a whole and each human being individually, and distilling these perceptive observations into lyrics that manage to be simultaneously so simple and yet so profound. It’s probably both of these, and it’s definitely captivating.
There’s a soft, ethereal quality that underlies all Bell X1’s music, regardless of whether it is upbeat and catchy or a slower ballad, or whether it is full of electronic flourishes or stripped back to the basics. Paul Noonan’s voice glides effortlessly over the notes, supported by melodies that have a timeless feel to them while still remaining fresh and modern.
The band is amazing in a live setting, regardless of whether they are performing to a stadium of thousands or in a small intimate venue. Paul, Dave and Dominic clearly love what they do and the audiences that they do it for. Their upcoming US and Canada tour provides an excellent opportunity to see the band live – grab a ticket if you still can!
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