Oasis singer Gallagher and Stone Roses guitarist Squire swagger down musical memory lane on these ten tasty tracks – which of course means plenty of nods to 60s icons.
There’s some Merseybeat here, some Cream there, and even a dollop of The Faces on the full-blooded rocker You’re Not The Only One.
The Manchester duo sound buoyant and refreshed, not least on the opener Raise Your Hands, a cocky, rocking calling card full of Jeff Beck bounce, with Squire’s lead licks neatly punctuating Liam’s vocals. The spirit of psychedelic blues drives the sublime Love You Forever. It has a riff that recalls the glory days of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and there’s a Beatles feel to the chorus.
Just Another Rainbow is slower and atmospheric, with a dreamy touch of John Lennon’s Mind Games era about the vocals and fine, expressively trippy late 60s guitar. Mars To Liverpool channels a strong Merseybeat vibe with Gallagher at his most melancholic. He’s doing some of his most nuanced singing on this album and Squire’s fluid solos are a joy throughout.
Buy Liam Gallagher and John Squire’s self-titled album here.
I’m A Wheel opens with a pure blues riff and is blessed with mop-top pop chorus and some deftly melodic guitar-play.
The title track is relatively laidback with an instantly catchy chorus. “Make it up as you go along, nobody knows any better than you,” sings Liam about lord knows who.
I’m So Bored takes us back to Beatlemania while the closer, Mother Nature’s Song, has the mood of a Stones ballad.
Cynics will complain that Liam is playing safe by sticking to his musical guns. But this is his best album since Oasis, and besides what’s wrong with giving the fans what they want?
The collaboration works like a dream. Some birds fly higher than others.
AMAZON – Buy Liam Gallagher and John Squire’s self-titled album here.
HMV – Buy Liam Gallagher and John Squire’s self-titled album here.
