Giving a taste of Kiwi

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 18

Giving a taste of Kiwi

THE NARCS “The Nares” (CBS PC8123). Right from the cover you’ll find a different Nares here compared with their debut album, “The Great Divide.” The cover, by former Crocodile, Fane Flaws, almost seems to suggest a more determined Nares. “The Great Divide” was very much an AOR record aimed at the American heartland, but here mainly because of the keyboards of Liam Ryan, the second album has skirted the pitfalls of the debut LP.

While on a promo tour before the album came out, Ryan suggested that if the album was listened to carefully the animals could be heard on the farm where the record was made.

But, the production by American, Tim Kramer, does not allow that kind of luxury - it’s hot, and held together by the piano, elec-

tric organ, and synthesizers of Ryan. Gone is the straight driving guitar work of Andy Dickson, although the harsh Australian beat has been maintained on many tracks. This includes “Our World,” a match for “Your World” off “Great Divide,” and the single release, “Diamonds In China,” a Ryan composition, which gets full flow of keyboards. There are also some definite surprises. ‘Abandoned By Love,” from the pen of bass guitarist, Tony Waine, slows the pace down to a ballad, and it comes at just the right time, plus an undisguised pop song by Steve Clarkson, the drummer, in “Love In Disguise.” It is these things that make the difference from the “Great Divide.” “Sevilla,” a song with a Spanish flavour helps point to a new approach, or maturity by the Nares.

The lyrics might not be hot, but the album shows a significant musical advance on what the group has done before, by trying to make their own distinct sound.

POP MECHANIX “Pop Mechanix” (Hit Singles EP). Quite a bit of interest will surround the resumption of recording by Pop Mechanix, who had a definite track record before they split up the first time. This fourtrack EP is an obvious start to getting that record straight. Apparently recorded over four days - and it shows - the EP, nevertheless, shows that the band have made a bright start. The songs are all quite simple, but they show off the band’s ability. “Here She Comes Again,” reaches a neat climax in a repeat chorus, with the nice lines

“ needles in her heart,” although it is a hard song. “Virginia Purple,” apparently about a group that Paul Scott and Paul Mason were members of in Australia, is a much slower, more delicate song. “No Surprise” is the pick, with a guitar refrain that echoes, and a very English sound reminiscent of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, for example.

The fourth track is a cover of Gene Pitney’s “Eyes Of Love,” done in slower time. This EP can be seen as testing the water. But Pop Mechanix have been careful in what they have done. A fifth track, “All That I Hope For” was ditched because they did not consider it up to scratch. But with a bit of work this could easily be their next single with its catchy chorus line.