Album review: THE GOLD NEEDLES – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You?

Jem Records [Release date 19.02.21]

The Gold Needles are onto album number three that features nine new original songs plus three covers including The Hollies ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’ and The Beatles ‘If I Needed Someone.’

Formed in 2015, The Gold Needles hail from Hull, England and consist of Simon Dowson (vocals, guitar), Dave Burbidge (guitar, keys, programming), Mark English (keys, vocals) and Carl Slaughter (bass, vocals), with Will Jones playing drums on all but two of the album’s tracks.

Opening with the album’s title track it neatly sums up the band’s sound, that of harmony filled psychedelic power pop. Next up is ‘I Get The Pressure’ which is bit new wave a la the Cars and seems to feature synth wizard Larry Fast (Foreigner, Peter Gabriel) credited as remixing the track.

‘Billy Liar’ has been released as a single, not surprising given its instant on the ears chorus. If mainstream radio played music like this it would be on the A playlists. ‘Drown This Sorrow’ also has single potential, having an air of the Moody Blues both in the music and vocals.

Depression is the subject ‘Realm Of The Black Dog’, which starts with Jean Michel Jarre like synths, dog howls and then the song morphs into a rock tour de force. Jesus Jones came to mind on this song, not sure why!

The three covers suit the Gold Needles down to the ground. Adding a little guitar heft to the Hollies song ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’, it provides a good chance to highlight the band’s glorious harmony vocals. The Beatles tune reeks of the 60’s and takes the listener back to that decade of pop delights, albeit with a modern production. A marvellous listen. The third and final cover version is ‘Counting The Days’, a song from 1984 by the Sound, not a band I was aware of before Wiki came to the rescue. Another song that fits the band’s style and sound.

A ray of musical sunshine in an otherwise dark and dreary time of the year. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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