STYLE: Rock RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 13387-3158 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £8.00
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
Having once been dragged, rather reluctantly, off to a Steve Lake gig I'd long decided that anything too "prog rock" was simply not for me. Too many tempo changes, drum solos and obscure lyrics and, meat-and-potatoes pop man that I am, I'm likely to heckle proggers with "where's the tune?" cat calls. But this band from Rochford, Essex who clearly have an album collection full of gatefold sleeves, have managed to make an album which has some memorable melodies, lyrics that point to the one whose death and resurrection has changed the world and some impressive musicianship - Steve Liberty's guitar work is at times spectacularly good while Tony Machon wisely avoids the keyboard theatrics which make some prog stuff so portentous. What is most impressive of all is that most of this album was recorded live on 16 track and though one or two of Kevin Smee's vocals could be improved (and, come to think of it, some vocal harmonies would help too) one is left with the impression of a good band overcoming their lack of expensive studios and equipment, and showing they have the technique - and the songs - to connect with adventurous CD buyers. Will the band move on to bigger things after this brave release? Time will tell.
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