Hurricane #1:
Find What You Love and Let It Kill You:
Tapete:
LP/CD/DD:
Out 20th November:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
If your memory serves you well, you'll remember Hurricane 1's storming 1997 Brit ballad Step Into My World, a sentimental memorable slice of pop-rock delivered as an impassioned call to arms that arguably dislodged fellow Creation stalwarts Oasis as kings of the anthem, for a few weeks at least. After a few more singles and a couple of reasonable albums, the band called it a day just two years later.
Frontman Alex Lowe hasn't been in complete hiding though - as well as crafting some solo work, he's been battling the big 'c' by writing music for a band. Hospitals aren't the most inspiring environments in the world but deeds must. Thus, Hurricane #1 is reborn along with Lowe's own career. Right down to the sleeve artwork, the singer has had a hand in the whole process and has assembled a new line-up as well as keeping the occasional service of original guitarist Andy Bell.
Bell can be heard on the perky single Think of the Sunshine, the fourth tune in the opening quartet of straight-up indie rock and rollers that heralds something of a departure from just plain old Brit-pop. My personal preference for an opening song would have been the powerful stomper Crash which is a serious statement of intent and begging to be a single and a live favourite. As it is, the somewhat more restrained Best Is Yet To Come pipes up first with Lowe delivering a huskier vocal in a Kelly Jones style.
Highlights, apart from Crash and the single, include the acoustic and reflective Feel Me Now Again and the fuzzy fist-pumping rocker Where To Begin. One idea that might have benefitted from a longer stay is the closing title-track, a sort of choral epilogue, a glorious cantata that builds into a multi harmony epic before stopping short of 2 minutes. Super stuff.
Whilst there's no doubting Lowe is back on the up, on the mend and on it, the trademark Hurricane 1 sensitivity remains throughout to create a likeable half-hour plus of earnest non-aggressive rock and roll.
Find What You Love and Let It Kill You:
Tapete:
LP/CD/DD:
Out 20th November:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Frontman Alex Lowe hasn't been in complete hiding though - as well as crafting some solo work, he's been battling the big 'c' by writing music for a band. Hospitals aren't the most inspiring environments in the world but deeds must. Thus, Hurricane #1 is reborn along with Lowe's own career. Right down to the sleeve artwork, the singer has had a hand in the whole process and has assembled a new line-up as well as keeping the occasional service of original guitarist Andy Bell.
Bell can be heard on the perky single Think of the Sunshine, the fourth tune in the opening quartet of straight-up indie rock and rollers that heralds something of a departure from just plain old Brit-pop. My personal preference for an opening song would have been the powerful stomper Crash which is a serious statement of intent and begging to be a single and a live favourite. As it is, the somewhat more restrained Best Is Yet To Come pipes up first with Lowe delivering a huskier vocal in a Kelly Jones style.
Highlights, apart from Crash and the single, include the acoustic and reflective Feel Me Now Again and the fuzzy fist-pumping rocker Where To Begin. One idea that might have benefitted from a longer stay is the closing title-track, a sort of choral epilogue, a glorious cantata that builds into a multi harmony epic before stopping short of 2 minutes. Super stuff.
Whilst there's no doubting Lowe is back on the up, on the mend and on it, the trademark Hurricane 1 sensitivity remains throughout to create a likeable half-hour plus of earnest non-aggressive rock and roll.