The Resonars - Electricity Plus

 

It has been a while since we caught up with The Resonars and we apologise for being so remiss. Our last coverage was 2019's No Exit and that also featured in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year. Electricity Plus really rubs in what we've missed.

The band have an ability to switch between genres and sound at ease and that belittles their reputation as a Garage Psych band. Gold To Blue, for instance, is great 60s Pop Rock that is harmony led, a song that you can sing along to, but if you just want to dance that's fine.

Sure As Shooting is a great mix of Bubblegum and UK Beat with the Brass bursting to get out. Yet, Easy To Be Found is great Psych Pop. Longfellow Trees gets even more Psych Pop with a big foot in Toytown. I gladdens the heart of this old man with his fanboy delight for all things Toytown.

Youngest Child even sounds earlier 60s, vocally, it gets close to skiffle and has a marvellous twang to it. Little Grey Man is super way Medway Guitar Pop UK Beat at its very best.  Spidery Light sounds very early Bee Gees.

The album feels wonderfully 60s, more melodic Guitar Pop than I expected. The arrangements are beautifully put together and the big stand out are the vocal harmonies. The vibe may be retro, but the songs stand up by themselves.

I love how bits of Psych creep in unexpectedly, but this does feel like great Pop, expertly played and written. They don't feel like a band that comes from Tucson, more Californian or Kent at times. That Electricity Plus is a splendid album leaves no room for doubt.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on Vinyl or as a download.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 91-100

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the last couple of years I have compiled Best Of 2019, normally I just said what my favourite album of the year is. I've done it again, because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists.

There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

I would also add that the Top 100 includes albums available as Download Only. To suggest that they are anything less than equal to a Physical release is patently nonsense and omits many wonderful albums.

I will compile a Top 20 of Reissues and Compilations combined after all this is complete. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the review, where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album.


No 91 : The Persian Leaps - Electrical Living       Review










No 92 : Pattie - Cotton Candy, Rusty Nails           IDHAS Review









No 93 : Philip B. Price - Bone Almanac        Review









No 94 : RPWL - Tales From Outer Space        IDHAS Review

No 95 : The Laissez Fairs - Marigold       Review









No 96 : The Amplifier Heads - Loudah      Review









No 97 : Mondello - Hello- All You Happy People      Review









No 98 :  The Resonars - No Exit      IDHAS Review









No 99 : Cassettes - Wild Heart      IDHAS Review








No 100 : The Taylor Machine - Hometown Advantage       IDHAS Review

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The Resonars - No Exit

Matt Rendon returns with The Resonars and all is well. Unlike previous affairs, his live band get to play on some of the album and it shows, although the lo-fi nature of No Exit remains. The vibe is very much 60's Beat and Psych Pop.

A sped up Hollies probably describes the album best. Maybe even early The Who meets The Raspberries, because the Guitar playing outstrips most bands who frequent this genre. There's also plenty of similarities to The Move's debut album.






The killer riffs are still here on the likes of Days Fade Away. as is the Merseybeat on Before You're Gone. There's certainly lots here for mop tops. But the Psych Pop excels, particularly the wonderful Tucson Drag / All Those Hats, which is as good as anything I've heard recently.

Fell Into A World is full of Searchers jangle, Gotta Get Out should be introducing a Hayley Mills film and Beagle Theory is a real hippy ballad. Many try to master 60's Pop. few succeed, The Resonars certainly are the exception, they master it.







You can listen to and buy the album here.


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