Tyketto have been in existence since 1987, when singer Danny Vaughn formed the band after his previous outfit Waysted, with Pete Way, had fallen through. Since then the band has been together in one form or another, though with a significant gap after 1996 when they went on an extended hiatus following the release of 1995’s Shine. They regrouped in 2011 and released Dig In Deep the following year. Though there’ve been three live albums, this latest release, Closer To The Sun, is only their second studio record since the reunion. While they’ve had their share of setbacks, they’re still out there fighting the good fight.
The album opens with ‘Higher Than High’, which has been released as a single, with Vaughn declaring that music makes us feel “higher than high.” This track has the raunch and swagger of Aerosmith entering their late 1970s pomp, an energy they carry throughout the album. The same goes for full-on rocker ‘Hit Me Where It Hurts’, about a relationship breakup. Listen carefully and, right at the fade out, Danny Vaughn sings quietly: “and I want my records back.”
The rest of the album continues in a similar vein, with Tyketto demonstrating they know how to mix things up. There’s no reinvention of the wheel here. It’s a collection of mostly radio-friendly melodic hard rock tracks, and that’s no bad thing. Their music isn’t grounded in a series of brutal driving riffs. Rather, they rock in a manner that makes their sound accessible to non-rock fans, as heard on ‘Harleys & Indians’ and ‘Starts With A Feeling’. The playing throughout is strong, and Danny Vaughn, despite being on the run-in to 65, still has an impressive set of pipes, not to mention his long flowing barnet.
Title track ‘Closer To The Sun’ is an upbeat rock number likely to become a stage favourite, while tracks like ‘Bad For Good’ and ‘Far And Away’, with its use of violin and a message of hope for the future, are slightly slower offerings. ‘The Picture’ sees Danny Vaughn channelling echoes of Journey‘s Steve Perry in his vocals, while the very impressive ‘We Rise’ features keys being heard more prominently. The keys are mostly tucked in the background across the album, and hearing them pushed further forward would have been welcome.
With the release of a new album, an appearance at Planet Rock‘s Winter’s End behind them, and UK/European tour dates lined up for 2026 including the Steelhouse Festival, this is an exciting time for Tyketto as they set about reestablishing their name and picking up where they left off.
See also: Tyketto Strength in Numbers 25th Anniversary Tour, live!
