By Keith Walsh
From Manchester’s Weimar comes an album worthy of the legacy of that musical city. Manchester is known as the originator of excellent music, and Weimar’s Dancing On A Volcano encapsulates all of the city’s creativity, in an album filled with insightful lyrics and outstanding performances.
The album, started at the pandemic’s beginning, features great melodies reminiscent of British art punk of the 80s—Magazine, Howard Devoto, Robyn Hitchcock, Bauhaus, even New Order (without the keyboards), and lyrics concerned with social situations and human nature.
Vocalist and guitarist Aidan Cross has a pleasant baritone mixed perfectly at the forefront so the song stories can be heard. John Armstrong on bass, Stephen Sarsen on guitars and Anthony Edwards on drums contribute solid performances. Cross is from Bacillus and Black Light Mutants, Armstrong is from The Speed Of Sound, Sarson is from The Deceased and Playground, and Edwards is from The Deceased. Jonathan Kloos contributes occasional keyboards, clarinet and recorder.
Cross presents as a raconteur and a sly observer of social phenomena.The album’s lyrics are all poetic, full of descriptions about life in Manchester and other famous towns. “Polished Decay” portray life in an English city that’s seen better days. “Soho Rain” is a beautifully tragic homage. “Nights In Spanish Harlem” employs funky jazz to describe a night in a legendary New York zone. “Hunter’s Moon” finds the protagonist in Venice Beach, California. “Faded Queen Of The Night’ honors Hollywood ingenues of classic film in a bittersweet way. (Tip: the lyrics to the album can be found at Bandcamp.com.)
Dancing On The Volcano is situated between post punk and art rock. While there are wonderful guitar performances, the tones are less distorted in favor of melodic support rather than an aggressive wall of sound. The effect is one of simmering tension, as the stories unfold. There’s plenty of space between the four instruments, allowing the literary lyrics the clarity they deserve. Guest work on saxophone (Finola) and trumpet and flugelhorn (Bob Dinn) lend to the pleasantly moody atmosphere.
Dancing On A Volcano is expertly mixed and produced by Adam Crossley and Chris Guest. The album was recorded at Vibratone Studios in Manchester, UK. The album is released on German Shepherd Records.
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