| CD REVIEW Sandstone |
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Band: Sandstone Oh man…time moves on, let me tell you! You know it’s been a full three years ago since Derry based North Ireland’s four-piece Sandstone released their truly captivating debut album Tides Of Opinion? Seems like a long time, but then the band returns with a killer sophomore album which simply steps in the debut’s footsteps and continues what that set off to start! I’ve no idea what the guys have been up to in all that time, whether they’ve gigged their asses off all over the British isles, whether they possibly got off those to display their splattering live sets on the European continent at all, or whether they simply stayed at home to perfect the 15 new songs they wrote for the new album in their home studio, playing only the occasional regional gig? I mean, there’s hardly any info sources on the band, and those don’t give away too much either! What I dó know however, is that the line-up went through a minor change with the replacement of Noel Thompson by new drummer Paddy “Power” Flemming. Another thing I know is that the new album is simply gigantic! Sure, the occasional listener may be somewhat surprised by Sean McBay’s owkward vocal signature (somewhat nasal and heady), but soon enough (s)he will be drawn in by the catchy Progressive NWoBHM antics the band plays. Where the heavier songs are concerned, Sean’s rhythm guitar alone plays súch catchy tunes you can’t help but turn your head and notice…but on top of that tasty bit of pie comes the topping with even more fantastic lead play from guitarist (and occasional backing singer, I guess) Steve McLaughlin, giving the whole a truly Epic (with an “E” to emphasize the strength of it all) feel! For sure, many people coming into contact with the band’s music will be drawn in thanks to thóse songs first, only to discover that the other tracks have a degree of attraction as well, thanks to the Proggy side of the band…and Sean’s unique vocal stylings! If the listener then starts paying attention to the lyrics, he (or she) will find out that Sandstone is still working with social-political issues, and still holds a justified (at least in my eyes) grudge against the USA. Just to give you an inkling about the compelling attractiveness of this band’s music…when time came for me to make work of this review (which is actually already a couple of days ago), I was using such stupid little things as “trouble” at work to keep me from actually beginning to write, you know…and in the meantime I was listening to the album over and over again, taking in all the details. In fact, I considered writing you a song-by-song description of the album…but eventually, and wisely (because it would’ve taken tóó long for you to get through) decided against that! In stead, I’ll simply direct you to myspace.com/sandstonerocks, where you’ll find mp3-files of three truly great tracks off the album: anti-US’s “Road To Guantanamo” (which includes a couple of news reel samples), “Enigma” (which includes some freaky synth in the intro and again a sample within the song), and “Son Of Carthage” (a more uptempo track which takes its place amongst the best Proggy NWoBHM songs of all times – alternally, the modern production on the track puts it on a same line as Hammers Of Misfortune for me). Only three songs, which leaves out the amazing “Happy Birthday”, a song which struck me with awe at first…and when I went to listen to it again I daresay things got so emotional for me when hearing how…gréat, magnificent…the lead guitarist filled in his parts during the chorus of that song…I started to cry from pure joy!!! And that’s from listening to the music only, you know! Call me an overly emotional old fart if you like, but that track IS beautiful! To get back to our MySpace page posted songs…there’s also none of the emotionally-laden (occasionally also containing orchestrated keyboards) ballads or semi-ballads on the album, which are still worth listening to thanks to the beauty of that lead guitar! Oh man, this album makes me so mushy inside, and strengthens me at the same time! It’s a good thing there’s not too many bands like this in the world, because now at least they stand out. Regretfully they don’t agree with what the music business promotes in general…but then the music business has been feeling the eronious ways of their money-grabbing tactics for some while now, finding an increasing number of young people preferring to (illegally) download music in stead of helping the music industry people in adding yet another zero to their ludicrously filled bank accounts! Personally, I’m of another generation, one that still prefers to have a hardcopy of any given album (and give me vinyl any day, because thát, at least, I’ll still be able to play in 30 years’ time!!!). Shite…that’s what you get from listening to socio-politically aware bands who express themselves in a such emotional way…they have me ramblin’ on about what’s on my mind as well! Anyway…I nominated the band’s Tides Of Opinion as “Album Of The Year” in 2006, and I’m doing the same for Purging The Past in 2009. At the moment the album is even at a lonesome top, and though I realize this is only mid February, it’ll take the release an album by some of my favourite bands to find Sandstone some worthy competition in their category! You know, the life of a music journalist consists of making reviews of a darn lot of middle-of-the-road albums, some reasonably góód albums (which make year-lists), and the occasional truly wónderful album (like Purging The Past) which comes along once or twice a year only…but which make the whole tedious job worth while all over again!!! 100/100 Tony. |