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

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)