Enfield's Block 33 are noted as Mod Revivalists and this debut album has been highly anticipated. It even hit the UK Top 30 and with the return of The Spitfires, that scene hints at a much welcome revival. Mod Pop has always had a live reputation, but it has been sadly missing from the airwaves.
This quartet though are not a Secret Affair copy band. They are much crunchier and enter many more areas. Yes there are glimpses of The Jam and the better UK New Wave and 60s bands from the genre and they do align with The Spitfires, but they thrive in the splendour of their own space.
At times, they sound R and B, Feelgood like if you prefer and even a little Punk. They can also perform Pop Rock and Lose Your Way may be one of the best songs from that genre this year and Drift Away is pure Brit Pop, almost Robbie Williams.
They do mellow just as well as the Up And At 'Em. Indeed the second half of the album is much slower in pace than the first, but still manages to add the wonderful Alive & Dangerous which drives through at a fine pace. The closer, Keep On Smiling, is an absolute epic, beautifully arranged and performed across the full 6 and a half minutes.
Despite the second half gems, it is the first half that grabbed me most with its sheer energy that shows me how much that I have missed this sort of stuff. You hear Mouth Organ and Organ and songs are delivered thrillingly.
The title track simply rocks your socks off and Lost In The Crowd is the sound of Woking 1977. There is another epic to open proceedings, Breakthrough, a wonderful sprawling meandering heavier example of what the band can do. What an absolutely splendid album.
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD or Cassette here.
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