Album review: TYKETTO – Reach
Frontiers [Release Date 14.10.16]
Four years ago, the much-anticipated release from Tyketto’s original line up, ‘Dig In Deep’ fell rather flat – it was not a bad album in its own right, but failed to live up to the impossible expectations of those expecting a repeat of classic debut ‘Don’t Come Easy’.
Now founder members Danny Vaughn and Michael Clayton Arbeeny are spearheading something of a fresh start. The revised line-up, with a trio of Brits, have sought to capitalise on some excellent live shows in the intervening years by recording a new album.
‘Reach’ opens in spectacular fashion with the title track opening with almost Queen-like layered instrumentation, a guitar solo from Chris Green up front, and a typical Danny Vaughn vocal melody. It is destined to be a classic, but sets an impossibly high bar for the rest of the album.
The riffage of ‘Big Money’, marginally let down by a weaker chorus, and ‘Kick Like a Mule’ both show how Chris’s more aggressive guitar style – with some arpeggios reminiscent of Mr Big’s Paul Gilbert – gives the album a tougher, sharper feel than ‘Dig In Deep’.
Nevertheless there are mellower moments reflecting Danny’s love of rootsier forms of rock with the atmospheric ‘Circle The Wagons’ complete with mid-song organ solo from Ged Rylands, and the reflective, almost country-ish ‘Letting Go’.
The more straight ahead rockers of ‘I Need It Now’ , ‘Tearing Down The Sky’ and ‘Fastest Man Alive’ have a natural, unforced feel to them, with at times a bluesy tinge not unlike Danny’s underrated post-Tyketto 1990’s project Flesh And Blood.
‘Remember My Name’ has great melodies on the chorus and though there is a slight dip in quality near the end, ‘The Run’ is an interesting closer, a biker anthem that starts in laid back fashion but gathers tempo with great guitar solos that show off Chris’ immaculate technique.
It’s a very diverse album, reflecting Danny Vaughn’s own broad musical influences, but one in which the new members, Chris Green in particular, have given the band a shot in the arm to help create a more satisfying album worthy of the Tyketto name. ****
Review by Andy Nathan
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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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