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.
Kurt Cobain never got to be this happy, and the production techniques utilized by the brothers and co-producer Jared Bartlett are effective -- nice backwards music on the final track, "Breakdown" -- a good case in point. "Roman Candle" has that British pop sound so many adore, and these fellows have the voices to pull off the caper. Playing with the Light is an extraordinary find for fans of melodic rock, one with staying power. Makes you want to seek out Luke Brindley's previous releases.
© Joe Viglione /TiVo