CD review: Side Effects by 1000 Planets (From Swindon Advertiser)

CD review: Side Effects by 1000 Planets

10:24am Thursday 19th January 2012 in Reviews By Flicky Harrison

Side Effects by 1000 Planets.

CD launch on Friday February 3, at The Vic, Old Town, Swindon.

CD available at gigs.

There is high drama all through this album with guitar that gets down to the core, brimstone and fire vocals and tempestuous drumming.

Fire Will Burn kicks off this latest offering from 1000 Planets with an hypnotic beat and a gothic feel. You can almost see the legions of Elves marching out of Middle Earth.

Alone has a powerful intro and strong siren call from the synth, played by Haydn Rischmiller, recalling the heady days of the 1980s and Ultra Vox at their height. This anthemic rock ballad has wonderful lyrics sung with force and passion by Dave Andrews.

We turned to a more rocky number in Nothing Will Die, still with the synth overlay. The fiery guitar of Rob Cannell brings a blacksmith’s hammer beat cutting to the bone, while the megaphone, echo vocals drift across the compelling chorus. On drums Jim Cannell gives some fantastic, bombastic and creative drumming all through this opus of an album.

Volunteer again gives Rob his head with some lovely rock guitar unleashed, unfettered and in full throttle cutting across the brutal, raw lyrics of losing a loved one. This track has a dream like quality, almost a nightmarish vision which is both fascinating and spellbinding.

Time brings us some light relief despite its dispiriting words again with the synth sound dominating.

Side Effects, the title track is a powerful indictment of our times about drugs and obsession of all types and their effects on ourselves and others. Rob’s chunky guitar opens this powerhouse song, flowing into a sharp-shooter riff that melts into sweet melody before revertiing to the staccato chunky beat.

Take What’s Mine highlights Dave’s wide range of vocals. The purposeful lyrics are perfectly delivered. Dave can swing from pop to rock in an instant and, however unlikely, his voice could even carry musical theatre. The strongest melody of the album comes from 12 Sides Of War, Deep Purple-esque, Led Zep-ish and with real heart.

The guys have tackled some really sensitive subjects in this album, all sides of life the good, the bad and the ugly and come up with a complex album linking one concept into another like a fine gold chain. A bit of a ground breaker for 1000 Planets and a real gem. - Flicky Harrison