Echoes of the past

Press, 10 September 1987, Page 20

Echoes of the past

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN, “Echo And The Bunnymen," (WEA, 242137-1). THE LONG RYDERS, “Two Fisted Tales,” (Island, L 38732). If you are familiar with the multitude of previous releases from Echo and the Bunnymen, their latest album will not have much of suprise for you. The Buhnymen have changed little over the period of their career and the music on the new album suggests they are beginning to recycle some of their old tunes. Melodies pop up which sound like snatches from theirpast songs. Familiar but with the rough edges of their early material removed.

Now, we get a slick, smooth sound with grand arrangements; layered, sweeping keyboards, and strident guitars — the qualities of neo-anthems. Then of course there is lan McCullouch’s voice, adding to the grandiose element of the music, but becoming' very pompous in places. However, he can sound very serious

while singing the silliest things (of which there are many on this album) — a useful skill in some situations.

The obligatory psychedelic touches are notable too — backward guitar noises on “Lost and Found” for example, and the keyboard playing on some tracks. The Bunnymen have even obtained the services of the keyboardist from The Doors, Ray Manzarek — a real musician from the 1960 s — does this give them immediate credibility? “Echo And The Bunnymen” suffers from a case of dullness — very nice but boring, maybe marking an increasingly overindulgent tendency in the band.

The Long Ryders come from California, forming In the mld-80s at the time of the recent country-rock revival, their early releases showing the influences of those like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Grham Parsons, although perhaps harder in sound. “Two-Fisted Tales,” the

third album from The Long Ryders sees a reduction in the country aspects and more emphasis on straight rock music, but once again with definite debt to the music of 15 to 20 years ago. The songs are slick, well-played and energetic, rather loud at times — “Prairie Town," for example. The lyric content is nothing spectacular — romanticsing the past and similar themes; there is some comment on problems in the world today but this is in no way The Long Ryders strong-point. Fortunately, not all the country elements of the music are abandoned, these are some of the better aspects of the album, especially on “The Light Gets In The Way.” So, “Two Fisted Tales,” is only in the realm of a standard rock album, slightly more adventurous than most, maybe. It is when the band are adventurous that the best songs emerge — “For the Rest of My Days,” and “The Light Gets In the Way.” — PAUL COLLETT.