The
heart of rock 'n' roll is still beating! The power pop guru returns
with a celebration of the simple things in life.
Girls,
guitars and rock 'n' roll – a simple enough recipe for happiness
that's endured through the decades ever since Chuck, Buddy, Jerry
Lee, Elvis and Little Richard laid down the template. Music may have
mutated over the intervening years but those roots are as strong as
ever. Paul Collins' latest long-player is an unashamed celebration of
all these rock 'n' roll touchstones; the pleasure of beat music, new
love, and cranking up the volume of your favourite slabs of vinyl. As
a founding member of The Nerves Collins' reputation as one of power
pop's key movers is assured. It's further cemented by this latest
platter. Recorded by legendary Detroit producer Jim Diamond (who also
plays guitar, bass and provides backing vocals and percussion), it's
a punchy, melodic affair with a strong transatlantic thread, part
British invasion, part US garage.
With
A Girl Like You is not the Troggs' song of the same name but does tip
its hat to British shores with its distinct Merseybeat flavour,
whereas Baby I'm I'm Love With You resurrects and punks-up the sound
of Buddy Holly & The Crickets. Detroit's musical
heritage gets a look in with a cover of The Four Tops' Reach Out I'll
Be There, its soulful longing supplemented with guitar band urgency.
Album closer Walk
Away further underlines this soul/guitar crossover, taking doo-wop as
its basis. It would make an emotive track for a teen-movie credit
roll should any Hollywood producers be reading this. Paul
Collins will be on tour in the States later this month and throughout
October. Get along to a gig and Feel The Noise! If you can't make a
gig get this record instead. It won't disappoint.
Click here for more on
Paul Collins.
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