Another consistent album from an undervalued band
Signed to Noel Gallagher's Sour Mash record label; an outsider could probably predict what sort of music that Shack would be providing. It's not quite right as Shack still worship at the altar of Arthur Lee more than anyone else, and the album is another blend of melodic folk, sea shanties and orchestral and brass manoeuvring.
The best opportunity for Shack to make a commercial breakthrough probably came and went with 'HMS Fable' and the single 'Pull Together.' Coming at a time when the British music scene was heading into a quivering come down from the Britpop and heading for the rap-rock horrors that The White Stripes and Strokes eventually delivered us from, it was a tremendous album that arrived at the wrong time. Shack had battled and recorded their own demons just as the British record buying public was starting to face theirs and the album never received as much of the credit as it deserved.
It's comforting to see that the band are still persevering and this record probably contains their most upbeat and lighted collection of songs to date, and whilst still unlikely to provide the riches and fame that lesser acts have acquired, should keep Shack as a going concern for a few more years.
The pace never quickens too much but there is vibrancy to the album that keeps it moving nicely and as always, the choruses rise and soar enough to encourage as many sing-a-longs as possible. Shack's problem has never been in getting to the choruses, and this record maintains the strong commercial feeling. This time around there is less darkness clouding the choruses, so perhaps more impact will be forthcoming this time around.
If there is any criticism it is that this record follows the melodic Scouse pattern that Shack have been perfecting for years, and perhaps The Coral do it on a bigger scale these days, but there is a smiling charm to the record that was possibly missing on previous Shack outings.
Musically, there are no great surprises or startling innovations but there is a freshness to the instrumentation and it goes further than just a standard guitar, bass and drums line-up, again nodding many a head in the direction of Arthur Lee and Love.
The odd rockier moments like "Black & White" or the brass section of "Shelley Brown" help lift this album out of the ordinary and it stands as another fine addition to a fine legacy.