They may be fictional furry creatures best known for collecting and recycling rubbish on Wimbledon Common, but '70s outfit
the Wombles are also responsible for a musical career that many bands can only dream of. Indeed, with 12 Top 40 singles and three hit albums to their name, the U.K.'s biggest-selling band of 1974 has stood the test of time far better than any other novelty kids TV act, as evident by
the Wombles' surprising performance at this year's Glastonbury, and now their first official release in six years,
The W Factor. Despite its contemporary Cowell-inspired title, there's no new material on offer among its 20 tracks, all of which are plucked from the four studio albums they recorded between 1973 and 1975. But while fans who grew up with the show will no doubt be familiar with most of the numbers, it's a chance for any youngsters who have just been introduced to the adaptations of Elisabeth Beresford's tales to hear their musical prowess. Fronted by
Mike Batt, composer of "Bright Eyes" and later
Katie Melua's first three records, their melodic pop sound was always more sophisticated than they were given credit for. The sea shanty-style "Minuetto Allegretto" was based on Mozart's Symphony No. 41, the yearning singalong of "Wombling in the Rain" and the enchanting TV theme tune "The Wombling Song" aren't a million miles away from
Paul McCartney's more bubblegum pop ditties, while there are convincing attempts at glam rock ("Remember You're a Womble"), steel guitar-laden country ("Nashville Wombles"), and even a Bond theme parody ("To Wimbledon with Love"). Of course, the constant references to Great Uncle Bulgaria and company, and the unashamedly silly likes of reggae-pop pastiche "Banana Rock" and Wild West homage "Exercise Is Good for You (Laziness Is Not)," not forgetting the life-size furry costumes, explain why they were never taken seriously. But with charm in abundance,
The W Factor should provide some respite for parents fed up with listening to the likes of Lazytown, Bob the Builder, and
the Tweenies on permanent repeat. ~ Jon O'Brien