Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

An enigmatic little recording - is the singer a blue-eyed white soulboy, or a black guy spreading out into soulful pop? Whatever the truth, Alan McCarthy (the focal point of this band) can certainly sing. If you remember '80s bands like Horse or Roachford, or if you're old enough to have been into Paul Rogers from Bad Co and Free, then you'll want to grab a copy of this! McCarthy are a tight band mixing modern technology with plenty of guitar riffs and tasty keyboards. There's plenty of creative production here, and credit needs to be given to bass player Rob Reed who has managed to give the songs variety and depth. There are plenty of excellent moments so picking faves is hard. I like the late '60s feel of "Diving For Pearls", the seemless funk of "Mr Writer" and the moody atmosphere of "Amazing Grace". But it's the multi-layered vocals and insistent groove of "In Your Hands" and "Doesn't Have To Be This Way" that shows a skill in penning poppy numbers, and there's plenty on the album that could cross over. Inspirational lyrics, soulful pop, a great voice, what else do you want from an indie album? This one stands out in the crowd!

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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