Self Release [Release date 11.10.25]

The self titled ‘Burning Rope’ debut album is the work of a band striving to find an equilibrium in musical styles and direction.

It’s an old school album which achieves its goal with deep grooves, fine interplay, reflective and observational story telling narratives and dollops of Pink Floyd era, David Gilmour style guitar.

But the band also self evidently derives a sense of modernity from its Catfish antecedents and a cross generational line-up.

And while much of Catfish’s bluster and intensity came from the late Matt Long, Burning Rope pursues a subtler soft rock approach with understated authority.

There’s still plenty of room for spontaneity and intensity, both of which often bubble up in exciting ways, but everything is channelled into supporting a song.

Significantly they also make the most of detailed arrangements, from the choice of instrumentation to the song structures. As a result there’s plenty of space for solos, fills, and nuanced tones, while the music consistently amplifies lyrical meaning and moods.

The album is also rich in musical variety, exploring elements of rock, blues, prog and funk, which allows the band members play to their strengths.

The impressive ‘Now More Than Ever’ is a hi-octane opener featuring Alex Voysey on a curiously mixed back vocal over a Faces style riff.

It’s a track that almost broaches Southern Rock, but settles on a harmony-rich hook with salient bv’s.

The band’s blend of harmonies and melodies serves them well, as many of the tracks are Paul Long penned and keyboard led songs.

‘Life in Reverse’ is one of his best songs, which sends out the mission statement: “Don’t be the one living with regret”, as Alex digs deep for a sinewy solo over layered keyboards.

It builds again, to a shredded solo over a slight tempo change which ushers in an intense stop-time finish.

Much of the playing has a ‘live in the studio’ feel, giving the album enough edge to counterweight the mid-tempo grooves such as ‘Something’s Got To Give (Part One)’.

‘Rise Up’ on the other hand, opens as a ‘kitchen sink and all’ funky groove. It overcomes a slightly overextended vocal at the 2.45 mark, to build enough power to transform itself into a ‘call and response’ rocker which evokes the optimism of the title.

The best groove of all, (and possibly the album’s best song) is the well crafted ‘Anyway’, which draws us in via an intriguing opening line: “You don’t know what you want and I can’t say what I need.”

Built on a vaguely Steely Dan influenced piano-led lilting groove and an intuitive vocal, it veers into Floyd territory, initially via the line: “Be careful what you do, be careful who you trust in this crazy world, with its many shades of grey.”

Alex Voysey adds some subtle touch and tone on a David Gilmour style solo at 2.57, which brings additional feel to enquiring lyrics. He finishes with a climactic solo before the song quietly comes to rest on the song title.

There’s no lack of ambition here, as evidenced by the inclusion of two covers, of which Elton John’s ‘Have Mercy On The Criminal’ is given a very original make over, as they compensate for Paul Buckmaster’s original cinematic strings with a big guitar break.

And while the new cover eschews the animus of Elton’s Leon Russell timbered vocal and screech, Paul Long’s warmer phrasing taps into the lyrical sympathy of the song.

It’s an unexpected triumph which also makes the most of Chloe Josephine’s significant presence.

The bombastic stomp of Eric Cobb’s ‘Tainted Love’ on the other hand, owes more to The Scorpions version than either Gloria Jones or Soft Cell.

The spiky organ stabs and drop-down dynamics works hard to bring spark and innovation, but given the outlined musical parameters of the album, and Adam Pyke’s thin vocal, it feels like an awkward fit.

And so to the closing 3 song suite, 2 songs of which fully unveil the band’s Pink Floyd influence.

The deeply felt ‘Before The Landslide’ is a slow building Gilmour style piece with heart wrenching lyrics about resilience, and were it not for inevitable Floyd comparisons would surely become a Burning Rope classic.

Then there’s the Richard Wright style keyboard textures and more evocative Gilmour toned guitar on the hymnal ‘After The Landslide’, which surely will evoke memories of ‘Wish You Were Here.’

The album then suddenly reaches back to complete part two of ‘Something’s Got To Give’, with a cleverly conceived alternative perspective on the earlier relationship song.

Some proggy ethereal guitar from Voysey and Long’s spoken word outro provide the perfect bookend to a well crafted album.

As with all good albums it also leaves a tantalising void, which with respect, you would hope applies as much to anticipating the band’s future music as it does remembering the late great Matt Long ****

Review Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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 16 November 2025.

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 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.