Slyder Smith first hit the stage in the mid-90s as guitarist with power pop beat combo, Last Great Dreamers. After releasing four studio albums and one live album the band decided to go on a hiatus and sail down the solo artist route. Although Slyder went public first with his Kickstarter campaign it was Marc who stole the march by releasing his quite brilliant solo album first. All that seemed to do was raise the bar for Slyder who kept his album under wraps until now. Taking center stage with a new band Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids (Tim Emery, Bass, and Rik Pratt, Drums) Slyder is most definitely on the Charm Offensive with an album made up of equal parts gritty good time Rock n Roll, a dash of glamour and a heap of emotion.

Kicking off proceedings with the Mexican standoff that is ‘El Encantador’ something of an ever so brief spaghetti western intro. then a roll of drums and ‘Calico Queen’ is chomping at the bit with a cheeky smile its got swagger in a 2 steps from the move kinda way with a rollicking saloon piano run and an excellent middle eight and big Bvs its a stonking opener. It’s only going one way from here now the party is started ‘I’m Done’ has a cool groove that’s twisting and grinding towards the chorus.

It’s got an air of confidence about it – that much is obvious even at such early doors. Hell, there’s even a cowbell! With fourteen songs in all you need to make yourself comfortable – hell grab a beer or four this is happening. ‘Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven’ has the soul of Bowie with its dreamy tempo and infectious melody and once the earworm burrows in you won’t get rid of it for days. Sure, you’ve heard it before but when it was the title track of the LGD second album it was all trashy crash bang wallop this is a very different beast and is just about right on the money. A fantastic reinvention of a really good song even if this is next level.

Wait a cotton picking moment, Slyder picks up a banjo for ‘I Don’t Want To Run’ which builds and has the feel of The Libertines or Carl Barat which is no bad thing then the chorus breaks out into a life-affirming chorus. ‘Maya’ is more of the same with a big beating heart its got a gentler delivery and with the bass thumping away high in the mix is excellent and to be fair its a real feature throughout the album, the mix and production is fantastic, and really compliments the songs giving them room to breathe like a fine Red wine. Getting Pete Brown (George Harrison, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Marc Almond, The Smiths, Sam Brown) to add his talent is well worth it.

Turning up the tempo for ‘Pleasure Victim’ and all its grubby Soho sleaze feels on the money churning up a rocker at just the right time on the record so the listener gets a second wind with some tasty guitar dueling for the lead break works well. ‘Road Love’ enters the fray with plenty of Mott The Hoople swagger in the arrangement and styling.

I’m not sure what to make of the cover of ‘Never Ending Story’ sure Slyder does a great job hitting the vocals right on the money but I never liked the original so I’ll have to give this one a pass but I’m sure there will be plenty who just appreciate it for the tip of the hat to a pop smash hit.

Anyway, Where was I? Oh yes, Rock n Roll haha! ‘Oblivion Kids’ couldn’t come quick enough. Another old Dreamers track reinvented. Maybe more of a straight rocker without the synth throb that the original version from ‘Transmissions From Oblivion’ had. I’m not sure which is the best. The production and sonic boom of this version wins hands down but I quite liked that hovering wobble in the background – hung jury.

Hell, after a brief reprise of the album’s opener we’ve hit the finale and with our poncho on and cigars lit it’s ‘No More Mr. Bad Guy’ as the band rides off into the sunset on this curious closing instrumental.

In summery its a wonderful album full of excellent songs that have well-worked arrangments, sing-a-longs that lift the spirits, and a record you’re happy to play over and over again – There’s no need for a ‘Charm Offensive’ just let the music do the talking let this album whisper sweet sweet nothings into your ear you’ll be in luv L-U-V!

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Author: Dom Daley