Blind Alley are a trio from Sweden and on the evidence of this, their debut CD, they have absorbed the
best of seventies and eighties melodic rock. You can't really knock this. It's well played, constructed and produced and whilst
it won't win any contests for originality there is a lot to admire and it shows that the eighties is alive and well and living in an
oversized ghetto blaster near you.
I am sure if you hear this you will be mentally picking off the band's influences, but if you can get past the first two competent,
but fairly bland tracks you'll reach 'One Life' which has the much needed sense of urgency and purpose whilst 'SOS' has a healthy swagger
(a la Pink Floyd 'Another Brick')and synth fizz, with a very catchy chorus. And, horror of horrors, 'From Now On' is a song that in the hands
of a boy-band would be an instant Top 5 hit.
Overall, then, there's some excellent writing going on here and whilst to some all this will be hugely derivative, to others - in need of their next melodic fix -
they won't mind being led up this particular Blind Alley.
***** Out of this world | **** Pretty
damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly
