Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Hatman
- Released: March 2005
- Rating: 6/10
- Cat.no: Hatman 2017
When Ray Royer left Procul Harum in 1967, in stepped guitar hero Robin Trower.
Hed already played with Gary Brookers Paramounts in 1963. They madeseveral singles, but only a cover of Little Bitty Pretty One achieved anylocal success, and they broke up in 1966. Reunited with Brooker a yearlater, he played on a couple of PH hits and the bands first three albums. Headded a rockier Hendrix edge which was almost at odds with the bandsstately pace.
After four years he broke loose and went solo in July 1971. Ittook three years for him to resurface with what is considered one of theseminal recordings of the period – Bridge Of Sighs. I remembered the titletrack being played regularly on late night radio rock shows. The album wenttop ten in the States, and it still sells 15,000 units world-wide. In theinterim, he formed the short lived Jude with Frankie Miller, the Robin TrowerBand, then he joined Bryan Ferry.
In later years hes written and produced film music. As he embarks on his firstUK tour in 20 years, Trower releases this collection to coincide with the highlyanticipated gigs. The old-skool rocker does a thinly disguised tribute to Hendrixand Thin Lizzy. Hendrixs spirit is everywhere on the rockier side, particularly onPlease Tell Me, whereas the mellower is out of Lizzys soft-rockrepertoire.
His vocals are a spit of both Lynott and Hendrix. Track 3 is a surprising votefor the group that should have been the best on the planet – Free, as he tackles asoulful Another Time Another Place and mid-paced Sweet Angel.
Instead of being ground-breaking, its too retrospective for his own good interms of progression. That said its a solid enough an outing, with sublimeguitar sojourns reminiscent of the early 70 s,as he gives a healthy nod tothe age of guitar decadence. Despite its retro feel, its definitely worthbuying.
Dont dismiss him – hes not a one trick pony.
Weblink: Manhaton Records.com /Trower Power.com (for April gigs,date and venues)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Whats Your Name
2. Step Into The Sun
3. Another Time,Another Place
4. Sweet Angel
5. Please Tell Me
6. One Less Victory7. Aint Gonna Wait
8. Living Out Of Time
9. The Past Untied
10. You Still Came Back
11. I Want To Take You With Me
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.