Search - Iain Matthews :: Spot of Interference

Tryin' To Survive the 80's

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 05/30/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"New Wave, Matthews???

In the Early Eighties, after we buried Punk Rock in some long forgotten Ditch in Brooklyn, the "New Wave" came along. What this is really is a Form of Rock known in the Sixties as "Power Pop", and like it or not it had returned to Haunt us again.



Meanwhile up in Seattle, our hero Ian Matthews was having Fun. He had hooked up with "Hi-Fi" and Cranked something that did not sound anywhere Close to anything he had released in the 70's. Our Ian was now a (GASP)...ROCKER !!!



The Voice is still here on this CD: "Spot of Interference" but these arrangements are with outta-doubt the most 'Dated' pieces of music with Ian's name on them. But, It Could have been Worse, thankfullly this is Guitar Dominated Pop and Not full of those CHEESY 80's KEYBOARDS, so because of that, it Deserves a Listen. And the Re-Working of "For the Lonely Hunter" is a Great Improvement over the version found on the 1975 Record: "Go For Broke".



And in the end it's not what Ian & Crew are playing or even HOW they are playing, the Promblem with 'Spot' is a Lack of Stronger music presented here, Because if you wanna get on the Radio (1983) you need to Bring In the Big Song to Break Through.



This CD: "Spot of Interference" does not have that Folk/Country Sound that we have known and Loved. With his next CD: "Shook", the Sound will Change yet again and Ian has now found those CHEESY KEYBOARDS and Tries his Hand at 'Dance Music' (Not Recommended, Sorry).



This Disc is indeed a Mis-Step in a Long Career (41 years) but if you want to own Everything (Over 70 CD's) It's Still in Print.



"