Luke and
Daniel Brindley (not a Bible study group) bring power pop back in all its glory with a driving nine-song compact disc cleverly entitled
Playing with the Light. All of the material is written by
Luke Brindley with
Daniel co-writing four titles that remind one of those excellent days when
Sutherland Brothers & Quiver and
McGuinness Flint tried to bring substantial sounds to the airwaves. "Slow Burn" is one that came from
Luke's pen alone, though it plays like what "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" could have been had
Pat Benatar not abandoned the new wave for her successful hard rock. No relation to folk supergroup Bryndle, the
Brindley Brothers take those
Gavin Sutherland sensibilities across the disc, "Supernova" going back to the theme of "Slow Burn," only with more angst. "The Crazy One" slides into the speakers with a crafty elegance and it is too bad the lyrics are so printed to small on the inside back cover. These guys have something to say and one must stretch the ear or look for a magnifying glass to get with the program. The keyboards reverberate on "The Crazy One" and the groove is compact and neat, just as it is on "Harder, Easier, Better." "Evergreen" has an absolutely delicious guitar line, like
Neil Young's "Alabama" or "Cinnamon Girl" sweetened up for a new audience.