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music builds into a powerful chorus, a female vocal pulls the song out of its despair and guitars grind and cut through the music before it all fades out into oblivion.

Open Letter and Ringmaster are back in the rock vein, the fomer full on Stones the latter more akin to Steve Earle or Tom Petty. Havana By Midnight is the biggest departure on the album, latin beats and a lonely trumpet sends this song over the border and across the water, Spanish sounds fill the song and even though it sounds different from the rest of the album, it has enough of the flavour of Tommy Hales nature so as not to feel out of place.

The album wraps up with a cover, Savior, originaly by London sleeze rockers Dogs D`Amour, this version is just voice and guitar and a very distorted bass way back in the mix. The sparseness of the music empasises the words, a song of redemption for past transgressions to the one you still love, and provides a greatend to the album, a moment of reflection after upbeat rock that has gone before.

Hale has a way of delivering powerful songs that arnt cluttered with noise, the guitars are sharp and obvious and the beats clean and punchy and none of this gets in the way of the songs and words. Although ths has a distinctly country edge to it, it is still rock and roll enough to hold its own ground.A great collection of tales and autobiographical references that will appeal to fans of the Stones and Tom Petty,as well as country and RnB (in its old meaning) fans alike. Its also not a million miles away from Izzy Stradlins Ju Ju Hounds and at times even reminds you of the cleaner end of the Georgia Satelites. Although not the easiest person to track down in the UK, hes generally over here about twice a year and can be found in small venues and music pubs the length and breadth of the country, often for free or at least for the price of a beer or two. If you cant get to see the man play then at least you should buy the album.

Learn more about this author, Dave Franklin.
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