Reviewed by Ewan Jones

Cooper and Delves make up two thirds of Eastbourne-based rock band Chasing Stars, and what this CD amounts to is essentially an acoustic rock set. Unfortunately, what it lacks is what it could do with most - some percussion and rhythm, which would have freed up the guitars for some imaginative arrangements. Much of what hampers this CD seems to be down to low budget production and arrangement - at times the tunes seem over produced (the bizarre vocals on "Ordinary") and occasionally under-produced. There are strengths - Martin and Jethro's voices fit together well when they harmonise and the quieter tracks work better than those that were clearly written with a band in mind. Standout tracks include the intimate "Why Do I?" and "Painting Roses" in which Martin sings about grief and separation, "These days I miss you so/I'm reaching out for someone I can't have" - it's a powerful song, unfortunately it has not been done justice through weak arrangement. "Pull Me Away" boasts a catchy chorus but also moments where chords and melody seem to clash. Recording an acoustic album should not be an excuse to just play the usual songs without the distortion. "Truth Is" contains some decent tracks which need some pruning. This inconsistent album may have worked better as an EP with the fillers (and tedious bonus track) removed and more time put into arrangement and production quality.

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