The Solarflares return with their 4th album on their own Own-Up label, following last year’s LP on Big Beat – and it’s a collection of covers and live tracks with the odd new track and alternate take from previous albums…
...It all starts with a new track, ‘Inside Of A Dream’, a current highlight of the band’s set and a typical Graham Day masterpiece with a crunching guitar riff and lyrics that build up to a chorus that remain in your head before it merges into a cover of possibly The Monkees’ finest moment in ‘Valerie’.
Wimple Winch’s ‘Save My Soul’ is probably the ultimate freakbeat track and I doubt many could do the track justice – no surprise that The Solarflares are one of the few who could, and aside from the guitar riff, the haunting organ of Parsley comes to the fore.
The first of 3 live tracks follow with ‘Miles Away’, originally on ‘That Was Then And So Is This’, the band’s 2nd album. Another Graham Day original, the live cut is from a blistering performance at the tail end of last year. Then a trip back to The Prisoners’ ‘A Taste Of Pink’ album, and a dust-down for ‘Creepy Crawlies’. It still retains the rawness of the original and shows how well these songs stand up 21 years later.
The Seeds’ ‘Satisfy You’ is covered next before the 2nd LP is raided again for an alternate take on ‘Get It Together’ and the 2nd live track ‘Suckin’ Out My Insides’. There’s not a great deal of difference between the 2 versions of ‘Get It Together’, though a little heavier on the organ, whilst ‘Suckin’ Out My Insides’ sees the band in full flow at the Buffalo Bar Islington, with their energetic live sound captured perfectly.
The Ramones’ ‘Glad To See You Go’ is tackled next followed by a new take on last year’s excellent single, ‘Open Your Eyes’. A great Who-like number, ‘Just Wanna Be Bad’, the 3rd live track on the album, is again full of power, energy and anger and builds up to a feedback crescendo. The quality of the live tracks makes me wonder why they don’t issue a live LP.
The album finishes with 2 more covers, Fire’s ‘Father’s Name Is Dad’ and ‘Hold On’, which sees Parsley take lead vocal and let loose on the keyboard.
It’s more or less a fan club album and is only currently available from Detour Records. It is, however, well worth tracking down for some interesting covers, great live cuts and especially ‘Inside Of A Dream’. - Reviewed by Dave Edwards
The Solarflares:
Allan Crockford (Bass, Backing Vocals) Graham Day (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Backing Vocals) Parsley (Organ, Backing Vocals) Wolf Howard (Drums, Percussion)
trax:
01. Inside A Dream 02. Valerie 03. Save My Soul 04. Miles Away 05. Creepy Crawlies 06. Satisfy You 07. Get It Together 08. Sucking Out My Insides 09. Glad To See You Go 10. Open Your Eyes 11. Just Wanna Be Bad (Live) 12. My Fathers Name Is Dad 13. Hold On
...These cosmopolitan jet-setters from the continent have been sampling the lo-ball beverages in airport lounges and burlesque parlors from Mexico City to Saigon, in order to serve you these refreshing exotic sounds. It’s all about the groove here - so get up!
trax:
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