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With 40 years of American ripoffs of The Beatles and The
Stones, it's only fair a few British bands be allowed to emulate
The Byrds and The Beach Boys. And in the case of
Pacific Ocean Fire, imitation is very flattering. This
Leicester, England, foursome must have been soaking in a lot of
American music. They absorbed influences from Gram Parsons
to Calexico and melded them into a new, original sound.
The group's first full-length to make it stateside is 44 minutes
of beautiful, sun-soaked Americana. In fact, the only clue the
lads aren't California natives is the "Made in England"
label on the back cover.
The disc opens with "Summer Engines," a jangling pop
riff about escape and dreams that would make Brian Wilson
proud. With tambourines and rolling timpanis, it sounds like a
lost track from some lo-fi Pet Sounds sessions. "Come
on, come on, let's leave this city. I know a place where the sky's
so pretty," sings Jon Bennett. It's an early highlight,
but the album has no filler. Other noisy, giddy numbers don't
quite match the opener, but have their own catchy, toe-tapping
moments.
The slower tracks are beauties, too. "Honky Tonkin' Troubled
Times" is a pretty country ballad that would seem tongue-in-cheek
if it weren't so earnest. "Leaving Dusty Footprints"
is another quiet acoustic ballad with slide guitar and a pretty
duet by Anjy Hall. It recalls the 1970's heyday of the
country duet. "I've been dreaming the same dream. I'm on
a tightrope, seems folks are grabbing at my ankles in the snow,"
Bennett sings.
The band's upcoming North American tour should be a joy. Not
only do we get a chance to see them live, but they get a chance
to soak in more American influences.
- Steve Graham
Track listing:
1. Summer Engines
2. Death On Yr Birthday
3. Yr Name On A Tombstone Blues
4. Honky Tonkin' Troubled Times
5. Leaving Dusty Footprints
6. When The Preacher Snaps His Fingers
7. An Arrow For Yr Heart
8. Lightning Strikes The Plane
9. Ten Years Is A Long Time
10. Roadsigns
11. Driving At Night
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