Album review: NASHER – 432-1 Open The Vein

NASHER - 432-1 Open The Vein

Babylon Pink [Release date 23.06.17]

Whatever happened to Frankie Goes To Hollywood guitarist Brian ‘Nasher’ Nash?

The opener – ‘Salt In Her Veins’ – sounds like you’ve put the radio on FM by mistake and it’s drifted ‘off station’.  But the lapping sounds of the Mersey gives way to acoustic guitars and a rather fine, unapologetic and unrequited, homage to his home town.

It may not be a Trevor Horn production but 432-1 is nevertheless rather beautifully constructed and, perhaps not unexpectedly, a decidedly thoughtful, evocative, social commentary.  No guesses needed which way Nasher voted in the General Election.

For the more anally minded, the 432 of the title represents all of the instruments being tuned to 432 Hz, as opposed to the standard 440 Hz, a technique used by the Nazis to make propaganda  broadcasts harsher on the ear.

But there’s nothing harsh on the ear about 432-1, and while he may have left Liverpool, defecting to the capital back in ’83, the album reveals Nash to be a far more skilful, insightful and articulate singer songwriter than those who’ve not followed his post Frankie career (solo albums Ripe in 1999, and Le Grande Fromage in 2002) might expect.

Beatles, psychedelia, and other cultural reference points abound across an album that, while sonically shimmering and glistening, in essence is a middle aged man’s rant about social injustice.  It’s refreshingly honest and down to earth (a bit like Jeremy Corbyn).  He may have left Liverpool, but Liverpool hasn’t left Nasher.  ****

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply