Heavenly Bodies

AMG Review of Heavenly Bodies

Roch Parisien
All Music Guide

The songs on Heavenly Bodies are driven by James Stevenson's fluid guitar riffs while maintaining a distinct kind of British reserve. The rhythm section treads a fine balance between dark foreboding and romantic optimism. First single "Josephina" is a decently memorable airwaves tune, if a little derivative of early-80s peers U2, Comsat Angels and Simple Minds. What Gene Loves Jezebel gives up in its drive for accessibility are those spontaneous moments of raw abandon that leave an unforgettable impression on the listener. With Heavenly Bodies, the group suggests those kind of transcendent musical experiences without ever quite delivering. We're left with a good, rather than an excellent, disc.