BLOODY RED BARON
December reviews
by Mike Baron
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YOUR GRACIOUS HOST: Falling Off the Earth
Your Gracious Host is Tom Curless with help from Brian Leach. Curless rules an expansive power pop continent brimming with melodic invention and smart dynamics. You would be hard-pressed to find a song here based on first, fourth and fifth chords, beginninng with the angular and surprising “Treacherous Love” which incorporates a touch of prog-rock–King Crimson or Genesis. “Don’t Need to Tell Me You’re Lonely” is an indelible sourball sprouting curled little guitar licks like cat claws. Curless guitar work is constantly fresh and witty. The title track sounds a little like Supraluxe and “Child of Wonder” is one of the great lost McCartney songs.
“Climb the Ladder” uses a somber descendiung guitar figure–you can hear the zing of Curless’ fingers on the strings. Like most of his songs, it’s both spare and satisfying, with some synth strings and a vocal harmony. “Don’t Look Down” is slightly Beatlesque while “Sight For Sore Eyes” suggests a sea chanty with that deep-sounding sonar bass. There are no duds and Curless leaves you wanting more.
Five stars.
SPEAKEASY: Trouble (Twist Records)
Hortatory hard rock in a Yarbirds/Clapton/Townsend mode, this Brit quartet revels in its influences while shaking them off. “Trouble” borrows the power chords from “Won’t Get Fooled Again” while “She’s Got It All” and “You Say” are in more of a Kinks/Yardbirds mode. Strong Kinks influence on “Before the Night” and when the boys shout “Yeah yeah yeah!” it’s got a ducktail. Simon Stebbing’s guitar is elegant and precise, hard as a diamond. “Restless” is more classic pop but really, these guys have a sound of their own.
Four stars.
MICHAEL DERMOT: Pilot
Strong debut of emotionally and musically complex hortatory rock in the manner of Andy Reed, Captain Wilberforce, by the end of the record you will be able to identify this band blindfolded. This trio delivers a dense sound with fuzztone on mostly mid-tempo burners that stick in the brain, beginning with the Billy Joel/Michael Penn-like “Another World.” “In My Mind” begins as a doo-wop powerhouse with Dermot’s left hand heavy on the keyboards, but it seems to be working toward a chord change that never appears.
“Destiny Park” features excellent dynamics that guide you through a series of gentle rhythmic rapids and a haunting bridge. “KONTS”, the “King of Nothing to Say,” is an anthemic condemnation like “Nowhere Man” or “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” with a carving knife guitar solo. “Haunted” is epic and “Unforgiving Night” is a bittersweet emotionally devastating song with gorgeous chords.
Four stars.
