Daniel Rachel ‘Burned by the Wire’ (Dust).

Another debut release, and an amazing release at that, with Christmas fast approaching this is one of those homely nerve jangling classic anthem that invites you to get spirited up with ample doses of fire water and emerge hours later misty eyed and thankful that you’ll live to see another sunrise. Daniel Rachel was one time member of Rachel’s Basement, a band we feel obliged though disinclined to admit we’d never heard of, I know don’t worry we’ve been sticking ourselves with pins all day to make up for the oversight. In 2002 he released his self financed debut solo album (the pins are getting bigger) and ‘Burned by the Wire’ is his debut single following on from support slots with such luminaries as Wreckless Eric and Billy Bragg. What can we say, tempestuous stuff. On the evidence of these two tracks Rachel shows a depth of confidence in his skills and song writing artistry, ‘Burned by the Wire’ is massive sounding with the same kind of euphoric glaze that Wylie achieves on his occasional forays to the studio, in between elements of Dylan mingle teasingly with Springsteen, a piano led tale about the dawning reality of adult life on child hood dreams, maybe you’ll shed a tear in agreement and a drink or three in nodding commiseration. Flip over for ‘Driving ‘round the bend’, and did we say Springsteen earlier, more so applicable here as Rachel kicks it up at the 50’s hop, tongue in cheek cockney barraboy vocals ala Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel, all rocking good humoured fun if you ask me even if it does veer closely to Meatloaf’s ‘Deadringer for Love’. Top stuff, recommended geeza.

MARK BARTON
LOSING TODAY