Jackson Analogue: And Then, Nothing (2007)

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: December 11, 2007

Here's a five-piece band hailing from the Isle of Wight, in the UK, that has been making some rather productive noise within rock music circles. And the beauty of it all resides within the artists' irrefutably upfront and nicely in-your-face retro 1970s hard rock/pop permutations. They also fuse late 1960s British blues, coupled with elements of the wild and wooly shenanigans of the period bands that straddled the progressive and radio-friendly schema.

Lead vocalist James Homes sings his guts out here, while the quintet antes up enough energy to provide backup for a nuclear power-plant. Let the good times roll, as they say! And the musicians abide by that philosophy every step of the way. Their mode of attack is somewhat reminiscent of now ancient and slightly raucous rock bands such as Family and Creedence Clearwater Revival, among others.

Pete Corney's delightfully retro organ sound on "Stop spawns a pleasant underpinning for Home's gritty lyricism about his or someone else's girlfriend, all executed with a rabidly rocking pulse. But they soften the impact a bit during the acoustic-electric ballad and country western shaded "Concrete Hands. Otherwise, the group engages in foot-slamming 4/4 grooves, glistened with memorable hooks and rebel-rousing guitars and keys.

Ultimately And Then, Nothing rises to the pinnacle of my imaginary 2007 rock and roll top-ten list, where tales of a bygone era are re-sculpted via the unit's distinctively fresh sound and hyper-mode delivery. Now if I could only find my tie-dyed bellbottoms...

Track Listing: Day Is Done; Stop; Come On; Janis; Concrete Hands; Buffalo; All Alone; Walking Zombie; Disco; West Of Here; Moody Man Left.

Personnel: Rob Homes: vocals, guitar; Matt Windsor: bass; James Homes: vocals, guitar; Craig Watson: drums Pete Corney: Hammond organ.

Record Label: Groove Attack
Style: Beyond Jazz