As their 25th Anniversary approaches, The Men give their fans - and yet to be made fans - something massive to celebrate....a huge addition to their classic work - the new album "Devil on the wind".
It is such a pleasure writing a review of an album that had me grinning, singing along, stomping the floor and generally being elated in a way that is reminscent of the first time I heard my 4 favourite Men They Couldn't Hang albums. Somehow, the fire in the belly of "How Green was my Valley" has been combined with the infectious hooks of "Waiting for Bonaparte", the clarity of "Silvertown" and the emotion of "Domino Club" to produce a work that stands as an equal to these classics.
Ricky, Swill, Paul and Cush have returned to what made The Men They Couldn't Hang the best rock band in Britain - and to ensure the consistency of that powerful sound they have, Bobby Valentino and Nick Muir return to the fold.
It is difficult to express how important a new classic is from a band you have loved most of your life - especially when you can recall the shock of hearing they had split up - all those years ago.....before they reformed....and then had another rest.....and then regrouped again...
Now their live gigs are just as passionate, ballsy and in your face as before and the new material will blend in with the old classics - and in fact, one of the things I am looking forward to the most for these new gigs, will be hearing the material from "Devil on the Wind" live.
As before, writing duties fall on all three of the previous writers, with Paul, Swill and Cush all being on form, and to the point that there is no weak song on the album! - every track gives you that feeling "they're back!!".
"Devil on the wind" opens the album with a hell of an entrance - middle eastern melodies mixing with that unmistakable TMTCH shufffle, with a faultless performance from Cush, typically dramatic lyrics from Paul....and a genuine "Men They Couldn't Hang" vibe to break the ice after a long break from the studio.
(plus whoever decided to include the banjo in the mix was having an inspired moment - suits the song sooooo well !!)
Swill takes centre stage on the second track for a more sensitive journey through Paul's evocative lyrics - and Nick Muir's accordion creates a blanket for a singalong chorus that you can immediately hear going down well at the gigs.
The Clash, a band that massively all four of the main members of The Men, haunt the third song - a Cush song that again conjurs up fantastic imagery through a Welsh wilderness - with a beautifully placed Morriconesque lead break interlocked with Muir's atmospheric organ. The guys are so on form on this record....
"Mrs Avery" brings in another style/mood that you can find on The Men's best recordings; here, Paul and Swill have written a sequel Dr Hook's "Sylvia's Mother" and given it the kind of treatment they gave songs like "Mary's Present" - and a chorus that reeks of what is great about the combined vocals of the band.
"Reservoir" is arguably the most reminiscent of the last album "Cherry Red Jukebox" with the riff coming from Paul's lead guitar dominating the song and a a hint of country about the melody. This is, again, a song I can't wait to hear live - and it shows off Swill's voice really well too. Classic.
The album takes an interesting turn with a beautiful, misleading, reflective lament based around The Crusades - "Overseas". Paul's lyrics are intriguing and, as ever, vivid in their imagery. Cush's vocal is possibly the best vocal he has recorded for a slow song.
"Heartbreak Park" features a lovely bassline from Ricky and another example of how well Paul and Swill write together. Powerful lyrics, Swill's emotive voice and a brilliantly placed layer of uilleann pipes make this another beautifully recorded song.
"Aquamarine" has been played at live gigs for a while now, so regular "Men" followers will be familiar with this one - and its great to see a recording of it - with Cush writing a more laid back singalong song from his usual barnstormers, and the high points of "Domino Club" come to mind; the song is so perfectly produced.
This track is followed by a bit of old fashioned Rock n Roll - a Swill warning of a brewing storm put to the kind of rhythm you would find on "How Green Was My Valley" - this will sound bloody brilliant live!!
Swill's next song, "Hard to Find" reminded me of Liberty Cage - the much underrated project that Swill and Paul took on with Dave Kent after the first split - the song features Dave Kent, signifantly, and the feel of the song reminds me of that time. Beautiful song.
Cush has the last word, with the song "Lost World" - a great album closing song, the classic Cush vocal sneer combining with some lovely lead work from Paul bringing this return to a form to a rousing finish.
This album is just brilliant - I am so pleased to be raving about a new album by a band I have loved for so long.
Bring on the next 25 years!!!!!!!
: )
Gareth