FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: February 15th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Muirsical Conversation with... Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor
  • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts (Featured Album Review)
  • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood (Featured Album Review)
  • Featured Album Reviews...
    • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
    • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
    • Jawbone - Jawbone
    • Steve Perry - Traces
    • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
    • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
    • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
    • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
    • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
    • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
    • JCM - Heroes
    • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
    • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
    • W.E.T. - Earthrage
    • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
    • 2017 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Quint Starkie - Ghost In My Heart
      • Downes Braide Association - Skyscraper Souls
      • Dirty Thrills - Heavy Living
      • King King - Exile & Grace
      • Steven Wilson - To The Bone
      • Robin Trower - Time and Emotion
      • Joe Bonamassa - Live at Carnegie Hall, an Acoustic Evening
      • Nikka Costa - Nikka & Strings, Underneath and In Between
      • The Mustangs - Just Passing Through
      • Simon Thacker & Justyna Jablonska - Karmana
      • Michael Schenker Fest Live
    • 2016 Featured Album Reviews... >
      • Glenn Hughes - Resonate
      • King King - Live
      • Aynsley Lister - Eyes Wide Open
      • Kansas - The Prelude Implicit
      • Joe Bonamassa - Live at the Greek Theatre
      • An Evening With Todd Rundgren - Live at The Ridgefield
      • Sari Schorr - A Force of Nature
      • Albany Down - The Outer Reach
      • Cheap Trick - Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello
      • Preacher - Aftermath
      • Ben Poole - Time Has Come
      • Stevie Nimmo - Sky Won't Fall
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2019 Reviews
    • 2018 Reviews
    • 2017 Reviews
  • Selected 2018 Gig Reviews...
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience DreadnougthRock, Bathgate
    • Uli Jon Roth - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender III - Troon
    • Ben Poole - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed Network - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Dapper, Paul Gemmell's Black Magic Blues Band - The Union, East Kilbride
    • Lifesigns - Backstage at The Green, Kinross
    • The Nimmo Brothers - Old Fire Station, Carlisle
    • Brian Downey's Alive And Dangerous - Cathouse, Glasgow
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Federal Charm and Bad Flowers, Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Rainbreakers - Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Hamilton Loomis, Mike Vernon & The Mighty Combo, Lights Out By Nine - Town Hall, Darvel
    • Kane'd - NR Rocks, DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Zal Cleminson's /sin'dogs/ - Concert Hall, Troon
    • The King Lot (with Those Damn Crows and Fragile Things) Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest
    • Kasim Sulton - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Danny Bryant - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Bourbon Street 5 - Brig Below, Edinburgh,
    • Chris Glen & The Outfit - Concert Hall, Troon
    • Simon Thacker, Justyna Jablonska, Masha Natanson - Glad Cafe, Glasgow
    • The Greig Taylor Blues Combo - Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • King King - Town Hall, Darvel
  • Selected 2017 Gig Reviews...
    • Anchor Lane & Black King Cobra DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • JW-Jones - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck - Audio, Glasgow
    • Samantha Fish (w/ Melisa Kelly) - Stramash, Edinburgh
    • Winterstorm Rock Weekender II, Troon
    • Bad Touch & Mollie Marriott - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Mr. Big (w/ The Answer & Faster Pussycat) - O2 ABC, Glasgow
    • John Verity Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Squeeze - The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
    • Raintown - The Arts Centre, East Kilbride
    • Erja Lyytinen - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • Stevie Nimmo Trio - Town Hall, Darvel
    • The King Lot - NR Rocks, Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • Mason Hill, The Garage, Glasgow
    • Hamilton Loomis - Town Hall, Darvel
    • Blue Oyster Cult (and Jared James Nichols) - 02ABC, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed & The King Lot - Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • John Verity Band - Cottiers, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes - The Old Fire Station, Carlisle
    • Snakecharmer - 02 ABC2, Glasgow
    • Steve Hackett - Royal Concert Hall Glasgow
    • King King - 02 ABC Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - Usher Hall, Edinburgh
    • Sari Schorr & The Engine Room - Aberdeen and Glasgow
    • Broken Witt Rebels & Bad Touch - O2 ABC2, Glasgow
    • Manny Charlton Band - Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed Network - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Glenn Hughes - The Garage, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bios & Site Info
  • Disclaimer, Copyright Statement & eBook Download Links
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Three times the laldy
Albany Down - The Outer Reach
Picture
"Difficult third album syndrome" is a phrase heard in musical commentary or review yet in the great scheme of third time arounds it’s arguable just how much weight it should carry outside of music fan debates.

Suffice to say the phrase came in to being via acts or artists who produced an excellent or notable debut, came up with an even stronger or truly outstanding second release and then failed to deliver on the third outing.

Contemporary British blues rock quartet Albany Down could well have fallen foul of "difficult third album syndrome" but, as it turns out, following a great debut in 2011 with South of the City and an even better offering in 2013 with Not Over Yet, there’s another phrase that applies to the band's third album The Outer Reach…

Knocked it out the park.

The powerhouse rock number 'Feeding the Flame' made quite the impact as the lead-off single and it makes quite the impact as the opening track on The Outer Reach; front man Paul Muir is in full voice, guitarist Paul Turley is in full cry and bassist Billy Dedman and drummer Donna Peters, making her studio debut (Peters joined the band in 2013) supply the rhythmic power from the Albany Down engine room.

'Feeding the Flame' is such a strong opening statement (it should be illegal to be this punchy, edgy, symphonic and melodic in one four minute song) the band could have been forgiven if they couldn’t quite follow it (difficult rest of the album syndrome?).
But follow it they have because The Outer Reach features incredibly strong song writing from a band that have kept things vibrant, introduced a few change ups and loudly and clearly showcased their musicianship within a passion for their craft.

Second number 'Do You Want Me Now' positively swaggers with energy and groove, blues-hot chips sparking from Paul Turley’s guitar while some organ keyboard adds a classic 70s rock vibe, but just when you think you have the sound of the band locked down along comes 'Supersonic Girl' to funk its way out the speakers with horn punctuations and an infectious chorus – Jamiroquai with attitude.

Fun song that 'Supersonic Girl' is, at the heart of Albany Down pumps blues blooded rock and the album doesn’t disappoint when the boys and girl get their blues on.

'Mr Hangman' slide guitars and southern blues rocks its way towards the gallows pole chorus with a defiance that’s reflected in the lyrics ("but I won’t go, ‘til the hangman calls, somebody else can swing instead!") while the hard blues ballad 'Like a Bullet' is led by some poignant, slightly fuzzed six-string remarks from Paul Turley and a stand-out vocal from Paul Muir (Muir and Thunder’s Danny Bowes are not overly similar singers in tonality but the former reminds of the latter as regards phrasing and ability to deliver exactly what a song needs).
 
'Like a Bullet' is also a song that Thunder guitarist Luke Morley (a consummate rock songwriter) will be wondering how the hell he didn’t manage to come up with it.

The Thunder references are well founded; as The Outer Reach continues through the weighty blues rock ballad 'Home' and the hard 'n' crunchy 'Revolution' it’s clear Albany Down have produced a third album with as much gravitas and sonic vibrancy as the Thunder boys did when they were Laughing on Judgement Day with a classic sophomore release under their arm.

The pacey and feisty 'The Drop,' driven by Donna Peters power-groove beat, manages to encapsulate the unfettered energy of Cream in full cry while being wholly contemporary in attitude – and volume.

Horns return to proceedings for the up-tempo 'Look What You’ve Done to Me' complete with "whoa-oh!" chorus chants (a song that was made for the live environment) while 'I Need You' starts as if it’s going to play out like a loud R&B shuffle Georgie Fame would enjoy singing before it ups the gears, ups the volume and rattles along in a flurry of high-energy fun.  

As 'Feeding the Flame' was the perfect opener, 'Sing Me to Sleep' is the perfect closer.
Channeling the subtlest hint of a Zeppelin-esque vibe across it’s bluesy, string backed and fairly understated opening verses, a tasty little burst of six-string colour from Paul Turley leads to the 'Hey Jude' styled nah-nah nah-nah chorus outro before fading to leave only Paul Muir’s "Sleep Tonight" vocal over Paul Turley’s acoustic guitar.

Difficult third album syndrome?
Clearly somebody forgot to tell Albany Down because The Outer Reach is nothing less than a tour de force of contemporary blues rock power complimented by a little R&B light and shade – and in pole position to be FabricationsHQ's rock based album of the year.

Difficult fourth album syndrome, anyone?

Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ

Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved