The Dave Foster Band – Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us
Anglo-Dutch progressive pop act The Dave Foster Band are based around a songwriting collaborative between acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster and vocalist Dinet Poortman that has paid dividends.
For proof, look, or rather listen to, debut album Nocebo, last year’s follow-up Glimmer and, now, Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us.
While Foster & Poortman are the prime movers behind the band’s creative progressive poppery, the pair are supported by a none too shabby collective of guest musicians including returnees, bassist Neil Fairclough (Queen + Adam Lambert) and drummer Leon Parr (Steve Rothery Band).
Opener 'Sleep Spindles' (the term for brain wave patterns believed to be used for long term memory consolidation and sensory processing) is built on an almost hypnotic, mid-tempo rhythm that gives way only for the gorgeously melodic choruses featuring the equally gorgeous voice of Dinet Poortman ("We fly higher when we sleep!" cries Poortman, in a nod to slumberous escapes from reality).
There’s also some tasty melodic guitar work at play on the near seven minute number from Dave Foster.
The thick and funky bass lines that introduce punchy melodic rocker 'Talent To Failure' come courtesy of guest four-stinger Mark King (see none too shabby, above); the song also sports a huge hook chorus and, again, some nifty six string work from Dave Foster.
Delightful, downtempo contrast then comes by way of 'Pollyanna,' an acoustic-electric ballad supported by subtle but highly effective string parts (arranged by Stephen Boyce Buckley), a lovely guitar solo from Dave Foster and a beautifully delivered vocal from Dinet Poortman, that’s not without its song-ending poignancy ("When the wind lies down and all the sand is gone, will our lives have blown away?").
The sparser arrangement (in the early going) of 'These Tendencies' builds to a rockier chorus that uses the album’s intriguing title as it’s hopeful clarion call of the confused (or is she?) narrator.
A wholly contemporary number, 'These Tendencies' flits from atmospheric, rhythmic pop to a more rugged rock form, as well as featuring a melodically crying solo from guest player Steve Rothery.
'The Optimist' returns to the progressively shaped, melodic rock stylings of the band, with an 80s touch; it’s also the first of two numbers to feature Anthony Hindley on piano.
'Queen Of Maybe' then offers itself as an unashamed love song featuring ex Big Big Train member Carly Bryant on backing vocals. The song’s delicate arrangement (along with a lovely, whimsical middle 8) allows Dinet Poortman to showcase her dreamier, vocal qualites ("Love is the only thing. Love is everything").
Anthony Hindley’s piano then introduces 'Delicate Things,' a slow build, power chord rock ballad (Dave Foster gives it plenty on the solo) about the importance of the small things in life ("You think nothing is for free… it blinds you in every way, since everything good is free").
'Whirling Of Whales,' with its shifting light and shade of atmospheric verses, heavier, melodic choruses and dark and rockin' instrumental section, makes for a purposeful and powerful closer (Dave Foster is in full, six-string flow at song’s end).
That Dave Foster, who also plays in the Steve Rothery Band (and a member of Big Big Train) and Dinet Poortman (who co-wrote several songs with Foster for his solo albums Gravity and Dreamless) have chemistry is not in doubt.
That they also have outstanding song-craft flair for progressive pop with a melodic rock twist or two, album after album, is now undeniable.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
For proof, look, or rather listen to, debut album Nocebo, last year’s follow-up Glimmer and, now, Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us.
While Foster & Poortman are the prime movers behind the band’s creative progressive poppery, the pair are supported by a none too shabby collective of guest musicians including returnees, bassist Neil Fairclough (Queen + Adam Lambert) and drummer Leon Parr (Steve Rothery Band).
Opener 'Sleep Spindles' (the term for brain wave patterns believed to be used for long term memory consolidation and sensory processing) is built on an almost hypnotic, mid-tempo rhythm that gives way only for the gorgeously melodic choruses featuring the equally gorgeous voice of Dinet Poortman ("We fly higher when we sleep!" cries Poortman, in a nod to slumberous escapes from reality).
There’s also some tasty melodic guitar work at play on the near seven minute number from Dave Foster.
The thick and funky bass lines that introduce punchy melodic rocker 'Talent To Failure' come courtesy of guest four-stinger Mark King (see none too shabby, above); the song also sports a huge hook chorus and, again, some nifty six string work from Dave Foster.
Delightful, downtempo contrast then comes by way of 'Pollyanna,' an acoustic-electric ballad supported by subtle but highly effective string parts (arranged by Stephen Boyce Buckley), a lovely guitar solo from Dave Foster and a beautifully delivered vocal from Dinet Poortman, that’s not without its song-ending poignancy ("When the wind lies down and all the sand is gone, will our lives have blown away?").
The sparser arrangement (in the early going) of 'These Tendencies' builds to a rockier chorus that uses the album’s intriguing title as it’s hopeful clarion call of the confused (or is she?) narrator.
A wholly contemporary number, 'These Tendencies' flits from atmospheric, rhythmic pop to a more rugged rock form, as well as featuring a melodically crying solo from guest player Steve Rothery.
'The Optimist' returns to the progressively shaped, melodic rock stylings of the band, with an 80s touch; it’s also the first of two numbers to feature Anthony Hindley on piano.
'Queen Of Maybe' then offers itself as an unashamed love song featuring ex Big Big Train member Carly Bryant on backing vocals. The song’s delicate arrangement (along with a lovely, whimsical middle 8) allows Dinet Poortman to showcase her dreamier, vocal qualites ("Love is the only thing. Love is everything").
Anthony Hindley’s piano then introduces 'Delicate Things,' a slow build, power chord rock ballad (Dave Foster gives it plenty on the solo) about the importance of the small things in life ("You think nothing is for free… it blinds you in every way, since everything good is free").
'Whirling Of Whales,' with its shifting light and shade of atmospheric verses, heavier, melodic choruses and dark and rockin' instrumental section, makes for a purposeful and powerful closer (Dave Foster is in full, six-string flow at song’s end).
That Dave Foster, who also plays in the Steve Rothery Band (and a member of Big Big Train) and Dinet Poortman (who co-wrote several songs with Foster for his solo albums Gravity and Dreamless) have chemistry is not in doubt.
That they also have outstanding song-craft flair for progressive pop with a melodic rock twist or two, album after album, is now undeniable.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ