Share the post "Album review: RADAR – Lost In The Atlantic"
Escape Music [Release date 19.02.21]
Escape Music have a knack of uncovering long lost albums, or in the case of Radar, one that has never had a proper release until now.
Radar was formed in 1981 by David West (keyboards, drum programming), Rod Jordan (vocals, bass) and Gary Stevenson (guitars). They built their own studio, Secret Studios, and the band started recording their debut album in 1985.
In tandem Gary Stevenson was also producing other bands at Secret studios, one of them being the then unknown duo called Go West (Gary also used David West on this project). Go West signed with Chrysalis Records, kept Gary as their producer and went on to win the ‘Best Newcomers’ at the 1985 Brit Awards.
Radar were happy to hold back the release of their album and use the success of Gary’s production works with various bands to promote an upcoming release. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as momentum was lost and the Radar album was never released, until now.
Radar have that distinctive 80’s synth pop sound, unsurprisingly sounding like Go West! ‘The Calling Time’ and ‘Going Overboard’ being prime examples, and on the latter Rod Jordan’s vocals sound a little like Nik Kershaw. That song is one of a couple to feature the sax playing of Mel Collins.
Go West’s Peter Cox appears as a backing vocalist on ‘Olympic Runner’. This song uses various effects – runner’s breathes, crowd noises – to good effect. ‘A Trick Of The Light’ is full of chopping guitar riffs and plenty of synths, recalling Saga in their mid-80’s pomp. ‘The Calling Time’ is another synth led delight and a chance to show off the melodic vocals of Rod Jordan. Sadly it seems he didn’t record much more after Radar, although you can find him on Soundcloud
If you enjoy the 80s synth pop of Go West and Nik Kershaw then this album will be right up your musical street. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
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.
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
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: RADAR – Lost In The Atlantic"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
