After a dalliance with the big league in the late 90s (and a few top 40 hits) Hurricane #1 are back with a vengeance and their new album sees original member Andy Lowe sum it all up nicely stating, “We wanted to create an album that would capture the spirit of rock and roll and pay homage to some of our musical heroes. Backstage Waiting To Go On is the result of that vision, and we couldn’t be more excited for our fans to hear it.”
They were good on their titular debut and the follow-ups but, to my ear, they have exceeded all expectations and maintained their vitality, rawness and power. This is in evidence on all ten tracks, and screams at you on tracks such as the bouncing, Beatles meets Warren Zeavon with a bass line that’s pure genius.
It also has the catchiest melodies you will experience this year, in my opinion. Then there is a switch to an almost Purple-tinged riff, quickly evolving into Kinks territory quite brilliantly on ‘Drive All Night.’ Punk threads weave through the poppy, clever ‘TV Blues’; we even get a journey into the early 60s on the multi-faceted ‘Why Do You Have To Be So Right’; my favourite, at the moment, has to be the punkish, rocky delight that is ‘Tonight’… be prepared to join in the crescendo to the chorus; simple, effective and great fun with two short, neat solos to enjoy too.
I hope this enjoyable album doesn’t get labelled ‘Britpop’ as the band’s first incarnation did because the skills and the varied songs on show here are way more involved and involving than that label suggests. No, it isn’t heavy rock, but it is high-quality pop/rock with an attitude that deserves to be heard, and Andy, your vision is fully realised.
Backstage… is released on 16th June via Golden Robot.
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