There are far more professional and well crafted reviews out there by well practiced journalists than this but I just want to say this album is lit, it’s boss, it’s a belter!
‘All change’ was released in 1995 and to date myself it was the year I went to University, it was released just 14 days after ‘What’s the Story Morning Glory’ but had no less impact on me than that juggernaut that swept through the masses! The CD was never out the stereo in my digs or my beetle as I drove around Cornwall. To cut to the chase I’ve been a fan ever since.
Fast forward to 2024 and the anticipation of a new ‘Cast’ album is as big for me as any release. The sound just works! John Power has a songwriting ability and vocal tone that just works! Slow, fast, loud or soft, upbeat, catchy, melancholy, it’s music made for vinyl where no song is, or should be skipped.
I read on Rough Trade that, “Love is The Call feels like a missing link between his time with The La’s and Cast’s first breakthrough with their debut album All Change”. What more could anyone want? I’d be sold just reading that without hearing it.
‘Bluebird’ opens proceedings but by no means sets the tone for the rest, I could as easily imagine John Power busking this track on the streets of Liverpool as playing at any venue.
From ‘First Smile Ever’ onwards the above quote is so true, it’s new and it’s nostalgia, it feels like a new album but every now and then something known comfortably swings or floats or kicks in and it’s welcome. From melody to a never overdone guitar riff it’s just right.
Forget nostalgia to be honest, this album is now, the nostalgia just comes from following a band, a band has a sound, the sound of Cast and John power is what I wanted and is what this album delivers. There seventh album and they still write amazing tracks that people, fans want to hear, thank you.
