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I Well, it's been a few years hasn't it. More than I care
to mention anyway. And there's been a few "hiccups" along
the way... "Sister Sarah", "Navajo Kiss", the Dunnery reunion,
and right at the end, Nolangate.***
But it's here now and surely the focus will fall on (John
Mitchell). How will he fit inside Dunnery's dainty boots?***
Those of us familiar with his previous work in (Kino)
and the live (It Bites) show (and even no-show) will know
that he has the cojones to do the job and this album in no
way dispels that motion!***
From the opening of "Oh My God" it is clear that the
boys are back and meaning business. Vocal harmonies soar above
a breezy (John Beck's) keyboard line with a solid drum n bass
backing from (Bob Dalton) and the Johns. Then, this icing
of Mitchell's energetic guitar work puncturing the air like
lightening on a summers day.***
"Ghosts" continues to make us believe that they've never
been away, a more pacey, urgent song, it fair skips along
for its 4 and a half minutes.***
The next track, "Playground" should be familiar to most,
if not all of you as it's on their live "When The Lights Go
Down" album as well as on their myspace page. In case you
don't know it, it's a slower, more deliberate piece, which
served as a great "We're back" statement last year.***
"Memory of Water" likewise has already seen the light
of day. This sees (John Beck) letting rip on the keys at last,
duelling with Mitchell in a furious midsection before they
make up and make musical love in the climax of the song.***
The near title track "Tall Ships" sails along next, graceful
like the tall ships it talks about. A very gentle song to
be sure.***
"The Wind that Shakes the Barley" is a return to form
though, an entertaining (8) minutes that harks back to the
classic eco aware days of "St Louis" tinged with (Kino's)
style. It probably lasts a minute too long though.***
All the favourite (It Bites) trademarks reappear on "Great
Disasters", which could have come from any of their albums.
These guys haven't lost any of their pop writing abilities
over the last (20) years, and if the top 40 wasn't ruled by
(PR) companies this would be the summer hit of the year, and
we'd all be singing "Dum bree um bree ayo!" on the Costa Brava
whilst knocking back our San Miguels.***
It was so tempting to say that they bring the temperature
down with "Fahrenheit" that I just did. Oh how funny am I?
Don't answer that. It does break the (It Bites) mould and
could point towards the future direction of the band. Or not.
We'll have to wait and see.***
The down tempo continues with the intro to "For Safe Keeping",
with just John's voice and John's piano before they let the
others join in. A love song in the prog tradition, saying
things without really saying them. It does remind me of one
of the excellent (The Urbane's) songs. But unless I go and
play their albums I couldn't tell you which.***
Again, "Lights" (played slightly differently on tour as
"Breathe") sounds so typically (It Bites) as to make you believe
that you found a magical time machine (as opposed to a standard
time machine) and have magically gone back in time inside
it, with only Mitchell's more gravelly voice (and your inbuilt
sense of realism) telling you otherwise.***
The album closes with the 13 minute epic " This Is England"
which finally sees the band updating their sound, bringing
themselves up to date and along with "Fahrenheit" point the
way to the future.***
It has been a long time, even since we first told you
about the reunion plans, but it has been worth the wait. This
is an album full of reminders of the past, but with enough
pointers to make you think that this came still has legs.
And in "England", they also have an epic good enough that
they may well be able to drop the tedious "Plastic Dreamers"
and "Yellow Christian" from their live set!***
"The Tall Ships" is available from www.itbites.com
as a Limited Edition Gatefold CD for £12.50 plus £1 p&p.***
4 out of 5
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