Album review: STEVE THORNE – Emotional Creatures Part 3

Own label [Release date 02.02.20]

Part 3 of the ‘Emotional Creatures’ trilogy he started back in 2005, which was also his debut album. Less name guests this time around as Steve Thorne plays all the instruments, bar the drums which are played by Kyle Fenton (Cosmograf) ,with lead guitar parts played by Geoff Lea. Both of these two musicians have worked together previously in a latter day version of the Arrows. Rob Aubery again handles production duties.

Scientism the notion that science has exclusive access to the truth and this forms the basis of the album’s lyrical content – one that as Steve Thorne notes in his sleeve notes says the lyrical subject matter will upset, trigger, threaten or offend you. To be honest it got me researching and reading more, especially given the current UK situation where the government advisor Dominic Cummings is a firm believer in scientism.

The album opens and closes with ‘Little Boat’, parts 1 and 2. Here is where Steve Thorne comes into his own, a gentle melody and his melodic vocals, backed by keys, guitars and effects. Indeed, the whole album has a lot of background narration and sound effects that demand the listener’s attention.

Despite its gloomy lyric, ‘Rainy Day In New York’ is full of pop melody, like an updated Police or Peter Gabriel. Or there is ‘Waking Up’, another jolly pop prog ditty, not unlike It Bites at times. ‘Monkey Business’ has a Beatles/XTC vibe to it, one for radio due to the catchy chorus. Sadly though you’re unlikely to hear it on daytime radio with the chorus of “They’re always leading us on, Their globe religion is so wrong, You bet they won’t like this song”.

Regardless of what reactions listening to the album has on you, there is no denying it is a thought provoking one and above all, one firmly rooted in some gloriously melodic tunes. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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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)