Independent (label)
10 June 2016 (released)
31 May 2016
Where the hell did this come from?!!!
Albany Down are a very good indie rock band – some Blues leanings and excellent players all four but suddenly ‘The Outer Reach’ comes along and I have to say that this is one of the most exciting listens for many a long yonk.
There are suddenly a few very fine bands around – Broken Witt Rebels, Federal Charm, Black Bombers – all making a big statement and all of them young and loaded with piss and vinegar but this may just be the torch bearer that young rock has been looking for.
Every time I have queued it up I feel the need to crank the volume up and dance around the room. They are loaded with energy and some bloody fine playing with Paul Turley really tearing out some great guitar lines and Paul Muir’s vocals at once screaming and melodic. Bassist Billy Dedman has some funk grooves in his bag but, for me, Donna Peters makes the band something really special – one of the best young drummers around IMO.
Add to all that their producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preacvhers, Super Furry Animals) not afraid to bring in the horns and create a huge sound wide and deep, almost three dimensional.
The rock tracks are wicked with ‘Feeding The Flame’ and ‘Mr Hangman’ driving like Lambo’s and the funkiness of ‘Supersonic Girl’ showing another side to the band.
All the tracks are band compositions and they show that they really can get a handle on melody as well as power. The influences are all there, touches of Zeppelin and Clutch but they have their own identity and the songs are a critical part of that – the melodic rock of ‘Like A Bullet’ right up there with Foreigner and Whitesnake but utterly Albany Down.
They are a brave band. 2013’s ‘Not Over Yet’ was successful but they have chosen to develop a new and more explosive sound, not a million miles away from ‘NOY’ but more focused and more intense, brimming over with confidence.
One of the best rock albums of the year, by far, and a great statement for the British scene in general, Albany Down have made a CLASSIC.
