Bandcamp [Release date 05.12.25] ‘Sol Caravan’ is a ground breaking debut album by Scott Archibald’s the id project which strikes the perfect balance between jam band interplay, rock related intensity, subliminal percussive rhythms and timeless musical traditions. It’s a conceptually … Continue reading
The post Album review: SCOTT ARCHIBALD the id project – Sol Caravan appeared first on Get Ready to ROCK!.
Of all the bands to harness the spirit of 80’s Hard Rock that came onto the scene just a little too late to make it truly huge, Tyketto has always been one of a handful for me that endure the test of time. ‘Don’t Come Easy’ (1991) and ‘Strength in Numbers’ (1994) are records I would pit up against any band of the era. They simply had it all. And that class has endured through line-up changes and the decades to produce a comeback album in 2012 ‘Dig in Deep’ that shone and 4 years later ‘Reach’ that kept the band’s high standards intact. ‘Closer to the Sun’ might even just edge it to be the best album of their renewed career. It’s an album that captures the taste of the early band and may of its hallmarks, yet which sounds remarkably fresh.
Aside from studio releases the band is also arguably at the very peak of their popularity, headlining Festivals, playing Cruises and even venturing as South as Australia and Brazil. It’s a great resurgence – they will have played live almost as many times between 2023 to the end of this year as they have in the previous two decades, and are getting bigger all the time.
As someone who has been a fan since they first saw them support White Lion back in 1991 it couldn’t be better. When I started this website back in 2009 Danny was the first interview I ever conducted and I’m happy to say we’ve been checking in and catching up regularly ever since.
Now they have a UK number one! If you love classic Hard Melodic Rock then you can’t go wrong with this.
And we hit a confident stride from the off: ‘Higher than High’ sports that trademark funky Tyketto beat and soaring melodies, but then of course you’ve heard the single. It comes as a nice contrast to ‘Starts with a feeling’s’ lush melodies and gentler pace; and the winning start is completed by the harder rocking crawl of ‘Bad for good’ which should put you immediately at ease. Three great tracks to open is a great way to return after a decade’s absence.
It does get even better though. ‘We Rise’ begins with a familiar acoustic opening before Danny Vaughn bursts things open. It’s just teh sort of defiant, fist pumping anthem that Tyketto do so well and my highlight of the first half of the record.
‘Donnowhoddidis’ that follows has more swing and hits a great goodtime groove which like a lot of songs here echoes the past in the best sort of way, paying homage rather than simply seeking to replicate past glories.
Opening side two ‘Closer to the Sun’ is another heavy hitter: uplifting, rocking, it paints a picture, before lifting to a beautiful chorus, a story of love that hits the spot if you love the vintage sound of this band. Another single, it’s another of the best on the record, and for me at least the second half of the record slightly outshines the first. But not before a curveball.
As we all know Danny like’s a bit of Roxette, and Tyketto’s first ever recorded cover sees then tackle not one of the huge anthems from Roxette’s reign, but instead a rather lesser known track – the opener of 1994’s ‘Crash! Boom! Bang!’ It wasn’t a song that had stuck in my memory despite owning the record it came from. There’s no doubt it’s a catchy song, but then there’s that age old dilemma – do we want a cover or another original? I would of course take anything Mr. Vaughn sets his voice to!
Hard as it is to believe I think we end with four of the strongest songs here, and based on what has already come that’s an incredible feat! ‘Hit Me Where it Hurts’ is harder, rockier, and has another great chorus. ‘The Picture’ that follows is wonderfully emotionally wrought, a great demi-ballad that opens with keys and adds a moodier aspect to the mix.
But man, does this end well! My favourite two of the entire record close. First ‘Far and Away,’ is a song that isn’t afraid to be a little different, with a hint of Seasons,’ killer harmonies and that acoustic leading the way it’s a song that like the final track could have sat comfortably on Vaughn’s ‘Myths, Legends and lies’. A beautiful song with the sort of refrain that just stick.
Closer ‘The Brave’ is even better. Danny told me the story of the song (check out the interview coming soon) and not being sure whether it was a Tyketto song or a solo song. It’s vintage Vaughn uplifting lyrics and the band helped transform it into vintage Tyketto, it’s stunning. What a way to close. Personally I see it as a song very much in the spirit of those two great opening albums but with a breakdown and solo to set it apart. It works perfectly and references those that pulled us through covid – the people that did the real work. It’s the kind of song that makes an already memorable album, magical.
This is Rock for Blue Sky days.
9 / 10
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