Elly Roberts reviews
Level 42: Retroglide
Distributed by
W14 Records
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 4/10
Along with Simply Red, Level 42 was my favourite band of the '80s.
World Machine will always be their benchmark. Its release in 1985 was
a high point for the Isle Of Wight jazz-funksters. It spawned hit singles
Something About You and Leaving Me Now. Before that we had
Love Games, Starchild, The Chinese Way and concert favourite Hot Water.
Then, amongst others, came Lessons In Love and Running In The Family,
both belting pop songs with catchy hooks and sing-along choruses.
Then it went pear-shaped due to a string of poor songs.
Truth is, King and co. have lost the plot again on Retroglide. Forever the
showman, King’s bass wires are as hot as ever, but the songwriting is lacking,
principally due to self-indulgence. They’re not bad as such, but there’s
little on offer to re-engage them with the general public, except for die-hard
fans.
On Retroglide, thunder-thumb Mark King has reunited with keyboard
sensation Mike Lindup who was also instrumental on their unique vocal stylings,
a perfect counter-player for King, and former guitarist-songwriter ‘Boon’.
Over the years, things haven’t really changed much in the L42 camp – the
sound is the same, pristine instrumentation and production. They’re still a
hot live act too. Missing here are the killer songs, once their trademark.
Pulsating opener Dive Into The Sun and All Around are throwbacks
to the '80s purple patch, with the frenetic rhythm section going into
overdrive to impress, but fail. Ambling Rooted with synth wizardry by
Lindup still fails to convince that they’re back with a vengeance. Thankfully
a chirpy The Way Back Home brings some relief from the tedium, which
might qualify as a single.
In a Leaving Me Now mould, Just For You should have been the
song to impress, again letting them down. Not able to contain himself any
longer, Sleep Talking is pure King bass-blasting exhibitionism, best
savoured for the live arena: it’s just an average stroll for all concerned.
The title song is nothing more than filler, with Hell Town Story
shining brightly at long last, above the mediocrity. The last two drift
aimlessly to a stuttering end.
After 12 years away from the studio, L42 should, and could have done better.
Very disappointing.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.