Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

In 2000 Josh Doyle fronted The Dum Dums who looked like they were going to explode into success at the same sort of level that Busted later achieved. Instead, after four top 30 hit singles and a buzz in the UK and Japan, the band fragmented under the pressures of pop success. Josh disappeared to America to lick his wounds and get his head together. Now he's back with a calling card EP to introduce some solo material that he's just putting out himself while he thinks about eventually maybe getting a record deal! What you get are five songs recorded in Nashville and sounding mighty fine! "The End Of Fear" opens proceedings and is the biggest in terms of overall sound and immediately captivating. "Aphrodite" is acoustic guitar-driven and lyrically purposefully self-conscious with one of those hooky chorus things going on that won't escape your head. "Boyracer" is more urgent and percussive whilst the acoustic "Solarstorm" feels vulnerable. The epic "Become Beautiful" closes things off and leaves you understanding that this EP is a CD of many moods. It's good to hear new stuff from Josh. Undoubtedly talented, it shouldn't be long before he'll re-emerge from exile and the bosom of his family to reclaim his rock star status (even if he's had his hair cut).

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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