October's 31 Reviews in 31 Days unintentionally referenced returning heroes and here is another. Dom Mariani has an extensive back catalogue that fits what we've always done. Through The Stems, The Someloves and particularly DM3, he has lit up our world.
After spending the past decade or so with the Blues Rock of Datura4, Mariani is back on more familiar territory. Apple Of Live is more Pop Rock than previous Power Pop related joy, but a song like World On Its Head revives the urgency and pace of those DM3 days.
The Pop Rock is ace, very 70s at times and reveals the sheer melody and harmony of Mariani's songs whilst venturing into different areas. Where Do Lovers Go, for instance, is built around some wonderful Steel Guitar.
Breaking Point sounds more 80s, AOR even, and Take It All Back adds more Steel Guitar, but sounds more Badfinger or Raspberries. Just Can't Wait again points to those DM3 joys, a great Power Pop affair that adds a memorable chorus. You will also find yourself singing theApple Of Life chorus for weeks and weeks.
There is more Steel Guitar than the Jangling of yore, but the arrangements are spot on and the production brings out the best of Mariani's easy vocal. There is also the stand out opener, Breakaway, that adds organ and an unforgettable chorus. You do forget that he is such a fine Guitarists, this is a big reminder, It is splendid to have Mariani back on home territory.
You can listen to the album here. It is available on CD and Vinyl here and all good record shops.
We all know that Dom Mariani is a Power Pop God, however his collaboration with You Am I's Greg Hitchcock is a much heavier affair. With Stu Loasby and Warren Hall, the quartet follow up last year's Demon Blues with Hairy Mountain.
This is more Psychedelic and a bit less Blues but there's guitar and plenty of it, riffs and solos. It reminds me a lot of Blue Cheer, very much in the late 60's early 70's department of Rock. Fuzz, Boogie, definitely groovy and when they hit that groove they stay with it.
It's a more than welcome diversion from the synth pop that keeps coming through at the moment. Everyone wants to be Everything But The Girl if they don't want to be Nada Surf. It's a refreshing change to hear Psychedelic Rock done well, so few are.
The guitars are reaching for 11 and so they should. Heavy Mountain is a real up and at 'em album and all the better for it. You can buy it hereand should.
The Wind And The Wave - Happiness Is Not A Place
The Wind And The Wave are Austin Texas's Dwight A. Baker and Patricia Lynn and they've just released this, their second album. It is a thing of beauty, Lynn has a voice that demands that you listen to it and the arrangements are wonderfully different and complement that voice.
The duo had songs in Nashville Season 4, but this is no album of the country variety. Butch Walker, produces and although we love him from his Marvelous 3 days, his productions can be a bit clappy and hey hey. Thankfully he's restrained here and concentrates on the great arrangements and THAT voice.
Songs like Let's Forget That I Was Even Here are rooted in 60's Dusty Springfield pop, Before The World Explodes has hints of Amy Winehouse. Butch Walker can't resist the hand claps on Skin And Bones, a rare irritant on an excellent album. The Orchestration on the opener My Mind Is An Endless Sea and the closer, Everybody Knows is beautifully done and the country acoustic strums are in the right place throughout the album.
At last as a major has got hold of an act that isn't derivative and deserves support. The album is far more polished than the debut, but it a thing of beauty. Great Pop! You can buy it everywhere, but you can find out more about the duo and there are links to buy here.
traumahelikopter - Competition Stripe
traumahelikopter are a Dutch band (the name translates to air ambulance) and the trio are doing a great job of bringing a lighter Garage Rock to the masses. This is the band's third album, their second for Excelsior, the label of our beloved Daryl-Ann.
I'd describe them as a cross between The Strokes and one of the better late 70's New Wave Indie bands, more like the latter. They get a bit psych poppy on the likes of Pull Me Down and the title track is well on the way to Power Pop.
Largely though it's that 70's New Wave have a good time chord strumming, you can imagine them to be great live in some hot and sweaty club. The album certainly impresses, a new discovery that I'm happy to have made. Refreshing to know that the youth know their musical roots.
You can buy the album here, Excelsior are spot on at customer service. You can also buy it as a download at Amazon for £7.99.
Don't get me started on Dom Mariani, I may never shut up. I place him on the same pedestal as Tommy Keene for services to Power Pop. From the blistering live act The Stems to the Power Pop joy of DM3 via The Someloves and latterly the bluesier Datura 4, he is never less than interesting.
The Majestic Kelp displayed his guitar prowess and Homespun Blues And Greens is his pop album. I'm delighted to report that the excellent Sugarbush Recordshave released a vinyl edition of his solo masterpiece.
This 2004 gem, his only solo album, was released with a whimper and that's really irritating because it's an absolute stormer. Power Pop is at times looked upon as boys with guitars, if that's the case then this is Mariani's grown up album.
Don't get me wrong the riffs are still around on the likes of Bus Ride and Cold Cup, but it's a much gentler album overall. If anyone can perfect a riff it's this man, but they are used in a much less in your face way. The whole album is just great pop. Homespun Blues is a great opener and it's more traditional DM, but there's great brass accompaniment.
The slide on Yuri is ace, Prove is great Sixties Pop complete with La La La add ons and then there's the unusually moody closer When It Ends. The stand out though is Priest, the trademark riff is there. but it's a real cracker of a song with a superb solo.
It feels as though this album is one that Dom had always wanted to make and the mighty Mitch Easter has proved his mixing worth. I'd recommend any Dom Mariani related album, but this is not what you'd usually expect from him and that's the reason that it is essential listening.
You Tube's recent purge, making videos region specific, means I can't provide songs, but take my word for it, the album is highly recommended.
You can buy the album direct from Sugarbush here and you should jolly well do so. It's a one album reason to buy a turntable.
