Reviewed by Carl Grimsditch

Combining a Celtic feel with rock could go so wrong but this Greenville, Illinois-based band have pulled it off magnificently. The opener "Black Heart" has a powerful message and an infectious vibe making it an understandable choice for the first single. "Welcome Home" has a remarkable bridge and violin solo which really shows off the musical talent within this band. Photoside Café have been likened to the Dave Matthews Band by some people and the same organic vibe can be detected, though for me the band's lead singer is vaguely reminiscent of James Dean Bradfield of The Manic Street Preachers, particularly in "Don't Care". The lyrics in all the songs are sharp and to the point, "Black Heart" says "So free my mind from which I consult/The fountain of the darkest thoughts this world has ever known/They surface from this black heart of mine/Oh set my mind free." while "Kill Your TV" with an almost hypnotic introduction tells us not to believe certain things we see and hear saying "Images are shown portraying how life should be lived/Approval is given by those who do not think." The second half of this set doesn't quite display the quality of the first but this is still an album to investigate.

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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