When I saw the review for this album in Classic Rock magazine I believe it described them as the best band no one has heard of. It compared them to Queen and The Darkness. I didn't need much more than that. I bought this at the same time as Ruts DC, "Animal Now" and I believe it's re-release is by the same people (Rock Candy).
The band have unwittingly doomed themselves to obscurity by having a common-word name, a self titled album, and only one album at that. In the world of Google it is near impossible to find any information on the band, or album, at all. Thankfully YouTube comes to the rescue again...
The album starts with "Soaring", and really, you could leave it there. It's every 70's prog excess overproduction mashed into one catchy song, all falsetto vocals, piano and soaring guitar solos *music pun intended I assume*.
They really are like Queen, The Darkness, Supertramp, YES and a thousand other bands of the era (or inspired by). The production is incredible. Why on this band, a band that apparently went nowhere? Maybe they were huge and we just don't know?
The fact they are unknown is part of the fun, and probably colours my opinion a bit. You feel excited to discover this great unknown band, and sad they're gone.
In a way they're almost too perfectly cliche. Like Spinal Tap. Maybe it's an elaborate joke?
The album is probably hobbled a little by how good "Soaring" is. The other songs are good, but they're nothing on the first track. The rest of the album sneaks a bit into Scissor Sisters and MIKA territory, and no, that isn't great, but by themselves they're fine.
I admit to avoiding this album after the first few listens. It was just a bit too cheesy. I enjoyed this re-listen though, while doing the dishes. I think you could safely get "Soaring" and avoid the rest, but it's an interesting album worth listening through at least once.
6/10
