Album review: DAVEY LANE – I’m Gonna Burn Out Bright

Capgun [Release date 16.03.18]

Introspective opener ‘Hell (A Prelude)’ hardly prepares the listener for what’s to come on Davey Lane’s second solo album. Before you know it, the belting synth epic ‘Taurus All Apart’ swirls into your head – sonically evoking a couple of Lane’s fellow Aussies (The Sleepy Jackson and The Disassociatives) but sounding pretty unique at the same time. That can be said for most of the album. Whilst drawing on influences as diverse as 80′s pop and 60′s psychedelia, it is a totally original and spellbinding record.

Truth be told, I may not have even taken notice had I not been a long-term fan of You Am I. Lane has been a member since 1999, Dress Me Slowly from 2001 being a particular highlight of his time with the band. There’s very little sign of any power pop here though.

Album highlight ‘My Apple Lady Cried’ is a wondrous track – The Hurting-era Tears For Fears meets XTC, with some icy early Ultravox synth sounds thrown in for good measure. A totally mesmerising epic!

The driving psych of ‘You Drained My Mynd’ would probably be a smash hit in a parallel universe (if credited to The Chemical Brothers!). The jangle-pop of ‘Bound To Break Me’ evokes The Byrds, in a similar style to the British band Diesel Park West – in fact, it could almost be part 2 of DPW’s ‘King Fluid’.

Completely different is ‘This Is Hell’, a simply beautiful song which is perhaps reminiscent of the darker moments of Stephen Duffy or Ryan Adams. Lane must be capable of a whole album in this vein and I, for one, would love to hear it.

Seemingly the perfect album closer, except that Lane pulls off a masterstroke by ending the album with the triumphant ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ production of ‘…Going Back To The Shadows’. This jaw-dropper truly ends the album on a high, and then you just want to go back and start it all over again.

A sensational record which hopefully many people will discover. While they do, I’m off to check out the back catalogue… ****1/2

Review by Jim Henderson

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 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 7 April 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 2 April 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 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)

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

Tweets by Get Ready to ROCK!