The Dave Clark Five and Mersey Beats meet Oasis
Alan James | Wickwar, South Glos England | 03/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I rate this LP up along with Echobelly's "ON", as a CD I can play from start to finish (almost) and love every track (almost). The slight duds are tracks 10 and 11, but they are more than made up for by every other track on the album. "Beat Mama" is just fantastic, and made a brilliant single which, at the time, sounded totally fresh and unlike anything else around. To me they sound Dave Clark Five-ish, and yes Beatle-ish too with Oasis melody and power. Powers has that fab sharp edged rasp to his voice so typical of the Liverpool area. The most striking and wonderful thing about these songs is that, just for a change, Powers can come up with a great melody - something that hooks you and you end up singing all day. Some melodies sound faintly reminiscent of 60's songs, but not close enough to pin down. Every song has some hook you can latch on to, and for me that's great music, and Powers shows an individual rare talent. Without doubt my favourite track is Alien, with Hideaway coming second. The beginning to Alien will rate as one of my all time greatest beginnings to songs "of all time". The guitar is so dramatic and yet understated. To some it may sound morbid, and the chorus line is a little repetitive, but the overall impression of the song is one of strong stirring emotion, and there is even a string section to add a real majestic and powerful quality. Powers's beginning vocals are superb and evocative. Alien reminds me, I guess, of the equally dramatic "Dark Therapy" on Echobelly's "On". "Hideaway" has a similarly dramatic but more powerful beginning and a fabulous high vocal from Powers. The melody jumps up and down the range in a way that surprises and keeps you guessing at where it's going next. Superb off-note chords traverse up and down the scale always ending on warm resonating notes that make you feel so good. The song builds to a high string backed crescendo and then marches off into the distance carrying you, spirits raised, and joyous up through the clouds and into the clear blue sky"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1