Reviews roundup – Atomic Rooster vs. Paul Brand vs. New Damage vs. Dyed In Blue vs. Trucker Diablo

Reviews roundup – Atomic Rooster vs. Paul Brand vs. New Damage vs. Dyed In Blue vs. Trucker Diablo

 

ATOMIC ROOSTER
Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings: 1970-1974
Esoteric

Well, say hello, wave goodbye to the weekend. It’s at times like this I’m glad I have no life.

Instead I can sit down with a four disc collection of one the greatest and most underrated bands Ever. Atomic Rooster. There was something in every incarnation that was special. Well, maybe not the 1980 version but even the closing “Headline News”, a Vincent Crane solo album in all but name was a treasure.

This box set, though, is all about the early days. As it says on the tin, “The Studio Recordings: 1970-1974”. And they were magnificent years for the legendary Mr Crane and the assorted musicians he took along the way with him. From the early prog years through the crossover “In Hearing Of” to the bizarre Chris Farlowe fronted prog soul sounds of “Made In England” and “Nice ‘n’ Greasy”, this was music like no other. For your bucks you’re getting all five albums they put out in those four years plus an assortment of demos, singles and overseas edits and exclusives. It’s hard to know where to begin as I love them all. The somewhat basic Carl Palmer featuring debut has it’s charm, “Death Walks Behind You” is probably the darkest album of all time. Bugger your Sabbaths, this is heavy.

My favourite is probable “In Hearing Of”, the sole record to feature Cactus / Leaf Hound vocalist Pete French. It’s probably the peak of Vincent Cranes compositional skills. This fabulous box set squeezes in 55 tracks and has an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Malcolm Dome (sadly not written by leading Atomic Rooster journalist Mr H) featuring exclusive interviews with Nick Graham, Pete French, Steve Bolton and Chris Farlowe. My favourite box set of the year.

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PAUL BRAND
12 Songs
Paul Brand Music

A wee bit closer to home for this one. In fact, it is home as we both come fae Embra. Mr Brand has been a working musician for decades with so many band you’ve never heard of. Mister Sledge, The Cherry Pickers, Cranachan, The Calum Marwick Ceilidh Band, Mr Pitiful, The Sundogs and more.

But this is a solo record which is rooted in singer / songwriter meets country meets folk. And very enjoyable it is too. The songs are very strong and it must be bad luck that stopped him making more of a name for himself over the years. For sure he’s not the greatest singer in the world but his voice has a lived in quality that suits his music.

The likes of ‘Walking Up The Royal Mile’, ‘All I Ever Wanted’ and ‘Take My Body Home’ have tales to tell and they’re tales well worth hearing. A delightful surprise.

http://www.paulbrandmusic.com/

 

NEW DAMAGE
Cosmodrome
Sunburst Records

To Germania! And, surprise! It’s a metal album.

But not power metal this time around. Nope, it’s prog metal time from New Damage who aren’t that new anymore. Not after five albums since Y2K.

They kick things off with their best tune. The eight minutes spent in the company of ‘Imperial Downfall’ is almost worth the price of admission all on its’ own. Some fabulous riffs and an excellent arrangement. They heavy things up on the following ‘These Empty Walls’ to good effect but there is a mid-album sag that means a few of the tracks pass in a bit of a blur.

Things pick up from ‘Cross Your Fingers’ onwards as they remember the prog part of their metal and it’s a fair old sprint to the finish line. They could have dropped a couple of songs from the middle and ended up with a top record. As it stands, it’s good, it’s interesting but not quite great.

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DYED IN BLUE
Moment Of Leaving
Dyed In Blue

Do you like your rock soft? Patrick Grehan certainly does and has dealt up a dish of prime late seventies Maple Leaf melodic rock for your delectation.

It’s the kind of thing that makes Air Supply seem edgy but when the songs are as good as these, all you can do is surrender to the vibe. He’s helped along the way by Toronto / Harem Scarem drummer Creighton Doane. which is probably why the legend that is Harry Hess involved himself in the mastering.

If this had come out forty years back the radio would be groaning to the sounds of ‘Place Like Home’ and ‘Ordinary Man’. Guaranteed AOR hits. Mr Grehan has a very listenable voice and there are some interesting arrangements tucked away in the grooves.

The guitars guide the music rather than the other way around and if you’re looking for something to smooth you up, give this a try.

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TRUCKER DIABLO
Fighting For Everything
Big Truck Records

With a name like that you’d better be up to delivering the goods. It’s a proper rawk name.

Well they do. Nearly. They’ve got the whole Leadfoot/ COC vibe down pat and the riffs really do rock like bastards. They’re also willing to drop a banjo on your ass when the time seems right. Which is a good thing.

And on this, their fourth album, there are some really great songs. They’ve certainly improved as musicians over the years, so all those tours with the likes of Black Stone Cherry and Airbourne haven’t been wasted.

You can’t help but get drawn into the likes of ‘Born Trucker’ and ‘Drown In The Fire’. They’re solid as a rock. They’ve even matured enough to deliver a heartfelt number like ‘When The Waters Rise’, the album closer. Musically, they’re bang on from beginning to end. Thing is, as with all their records, I’m just not a fan of the vocals. Hopefully, it’s just me that yearns for a stronger voice because, apart from that, they’re one of the strongest UK bands out there.

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