Who? I hear you ask. Well, when Diamond Head sort of fell apart in the mid eighties vocalist Sean Harris got together with guitarist Robin George to form this project. Now, it’s nothing like Diamond Head and I would say this is closer to pop than rock but I think it’s a really cool record. It was a great move to make at the time as melodic rock was dominant (especially in the US), and I see why John Kalodner signed them to Geffen.
Opening track The Swalk feels a bit like Robert Palmer in his “Addicted” phase. This Night has a big Bad Company vibe with a huge guitar sound. You Need More is pure AOR goodness; huge on the melody. Just to turn things upside down, Arrianne feels like new wave pop. Losing You closes out Side 1 and keeps the new wave thing going but with a much slower groove.
Radio Silence turns up the volume somewhat and has an old school rock n’ roll vibe buried in the mix, Billy Squier keeps popping up in my head. Eyes Of The World has a big Queen vibe, with a hint of funk. Touch starts like Tears For Fears and carries on like that all the way through. I would describe Love Fades as a pop ballad. The close out tune I Believe In You ends with some old school R’n’B.
I can see why people backed away at the time as Harris and George both came from hard rock backgrounds and the only audience that knew them would shy away from anything like this. The online reviews for this are extreme in their hate or love of it. I am somehow in between.
7.5/10 from The Grooveman.
