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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

It Bites "The Tall Ships"-(Charlie's Review)

Reviewed by:
Genre: Prog/Rock
Country: England
Language: English
Length: 69:32
Release Date: 10/28/08
Band Members: Lead Vocals and Guitars - John Mitchell Keyboards and Backing Vocals - John Beck
  Drums and Backing Vocals - Bob Dalton Bass Guitars - John Mitchell and John Beck
     
     
Track Listing: 1.)- Oh My God (5:47) 8.)- Fahrenheit (5:16)
  2.)- Ghosts (4:45) 9.) - For Safekeeping (5:27)
  3.)- Playground (5:32) 10.)- Lights (4:54)
  4.)- Memory Of Water (4:49) 11.) -This Is England (13:34)
  5.)-The Tall Ships (6:17)  
  6.)-The Wind That Shakes The Barley (8:12)  
  7.)- Great Disasters (4:59)
     
 

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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