Liverpool’s John Power and co returns after 2024’s Love Is The Call with an eighth LP, packed with anthemic, catchy, voluminous indie rock bangers with P.P. Arnold adding classy backing vocals. Explosive opener Poison Vine very much hits the the Rolling Stones spot, while Way It’s Gotta Be (Oh Yeah) has chunky meaty riffs more reminiscent of Led Zeppelin or early blues-era Fleetwood Mac. Having also supported the Oasis mega tour last year, there are inevitable parallel sounds, such as Don’t Look Away, Calling Out Your Name, or Weight of the World, but after all this is music from the same mould and influences and arguably Cast came slightly earlier. It’s a satisfying does-what-it-says-on-the-tin album, not exactly original, but with no shortage of strong musicianship nor high-octane raspy voiced singalong melodies with a high production level, with Free Love, for example turned up the max with some orchestral backing. Devil and The Deep is an acoustic number with echoes of Power’s days with The La’s, while Teardrops strips the style back more to 60s pop and Birds Heading South has a wistful Merseyside flavour. Solid strong songwriting that delivers what the fans want. Out on Scruff of the Neck.
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