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Elly Roberts reviews
Bleach Records
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Essex based The Morenas are one helluva rock band.They deserve to be massive, really massive. Based on their dazzling performanceatOswestry Music Live 2005,theyre my tip to hit the big-time, soon. From the very go they commandedattention, sparkling up the sweltering Sunday afternoon.
The trio of swarthy heartthrob Paolo Morena lead vocals/guitar, Tim Jackson bass and Steve Wilson drums was the standout act of the day. Theirfreewheeling and cavalier attitude was refreshing and bold. Whole AndThe Half is their very impressive long-awaited debut on Bleach Records,where theyve captured the spirit of their extraordinary live shows.With most of the tracks written by showman Paolo Morena, the solid bandshow off their technique with credibility, style, and substance.
Formed to pursue an adrenalin-fuelled mix of melody, rhythm and rock, with apinch of melancholy, theyre turning into real trailblazers, having alreadyplayed a live session on Janice Longs BBC Radio 2 slot. Paolo, who alone isa star in the making, loves his high energy riffs, caught to perfection onthe soaring I Just Wanna Be Someone (a definite single!).
Packing as big a punch, high octane Leave Me Alone, is even moreimpressive, with Paolos impassioned vocals running a thread throughout. 21stCentury Curse is right out of the 70s classic rock songbook rasping riffsand picks aplenty.
Amongst the blood and thunder, they can flip into a (slightly) mellower modewith great empathy on 70s inspired soft-rocker Youth Juice. Talking of the70s, Filthy has more than just a Thin Lizzy nod to it. On a lighternote, acoustic strummed Carolines Dream, (in memory of CarolineBaker), a fluttering ballad with swirling strings, is one of the albumsmain highlights.
Strings and brass support the divinely melancholic Katherines Undone,showing their maturity in handling sensitive songs. No album like this wouldbe rubber stamped without a climax thunderous Drove (another singlemaybe?) provides a monster ending.
The Morenas havent delivered a classic song as yet: its not far away.
Look out for latest single My Violent Femme.
Weblinks:themorenas.co.uk /myspace.com/themorenas
The full list of tracks included are :
1. I Just Wanna Be Someone
2. Leave Me Alone
3. 21st Century
4. Youth Justice
5. My Violent Femme
6. Filthy
7. Social Abuse
8. Carolines Dream
9. Time And Pressure
10. One Stroke Engine
11. Katherines Undone
12. Drove
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.