CD Review - Ricky - The Summer Sun Still Echoes By Nick Quantrill

Why exactly is there a review of a band from Portsmouth on a website about Hull you're probably thinking? I could talk about the similarities between the two cities as a reason, well, the naval traditions of them. I think I still feel deprived that my only school trip whilst at Hull Trinity House was a rather tedious visit to a battleship in Portsmouth, but that probably serves me right for attending an all boys school. No, the only reason I'm reviewing this album is because I like it. Ricky is a great young band with bags of potential and the determination to succeed on their own terms.

This is Ricky's debut album but it follows on the heels of a successful mini-album in 2002 and a well-received single in 2003. Each of these releases has seen the band improve greatly and it's no surprise this album has been released by Superior Quality Recordings, home of The Bluetones. The Bluetones is maybe a good reference point as I can see Ricky eliciting the same kind of love them or hate them response.

If you like killer harmonies, tunes as catchy as chicken pox and jingly-jangly guitars then you'll love them. If you don't then you probably need a doctor.

Whilst the sound is heavily retro (not that's a bad thing in itself), it has a modern twist. I suspect Ricky know their music and have listened to and absorbed a lot of Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys. Ricky take these influences and mix them up to create a sound not too dissimilar to Teenage Fanclub and maybe even The Thrills.

It's difficult to pick stand out tracks on the album, it's light of filler, so I'll just pick my initial favourites, Sunset View and Chichen Itza for special mention.

Criticisms? Well, it's not a Revolver or Pet Sounds but if that was the criteria then dullards like Travis and Starsailor wouldn't have record deals. On occasion it sounds like the band are keener to work in a complex harmony for its own sake rather than for the benefit of the song, but that's rare. The rate the band has improved over the last two years is dramatic. I'll bet by the next record the band will have matured further and these minor criticisms will have disappeared.

Take a chance on this band, seek out this album and catch them live around the UK. I don't think you'll regret it.

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