The Gold Needles - Mood Elevator

 

Over to Hull for I Don't Hear A Single regulars, The Gold Needles. I'm sort of proud of our association with them since 2018's debut album, Pearls. I've reviewed all three previous albums which have appeared in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year.

They are a band that support others, something that doesn't always happen here in the UK. They fit perfectly on the Big Stir label, a sort of natural home and I also feel a little guilty about taking 3 months to review this fourth album.

To be honest, the December release date was a strange one. We leave the Reviews and the resulting Best Of Year, but I just couldn't get around to a proper listen with all the tying things up and preparing for the End Of Year thing. We intend to approach 2026 differently with an earlier publication date as the way we have approached things in the past means it is mid February before we get into the following year.

So I felt that getting to March may be the best time to present this review as the Best Of 2026 is out of the way and out of sight. I can now concentrate on the words for this melodic gem. As ever beautifully produced centring more around Pop Rock.

There's a lot to note, but I'll concentrate on a few main takes. Firstly, Simon Dowson's pipes are as in great form, gentle for most of the time, but wonderfully affecting. Secondly, his guitar work is stunning, through riffs and solos, this is a Guitar album of the highest order.

Finally, Mood Elevator is a Pop Rock album, but this time the genre leans more towards Power Pop. The Psych Pop has been largely smoothed out. I'm a bit sad about that, but a more focussed direction certainly helps a great deal.

There are outliers which work well, for instance the funk and 80s synth led title track. Crescent Moon gets a little Classic Rock, but jangles wonderfully. Pale Blue Silver Eyes sounds more 70s, the vocal is very Justin Hayward.

Turns To Gold even has UK Glam Rock overtones. But it is the Power Pop that resonates most. I Don't Know About That, Eleven Eleven and Keep On Telling Me Why are absolute winners as the whole album does. Pop Rock never sounded so good.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.

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