Nine years and six albums on, Big Audio's formula of Mick Jones-penned pop tunes, hip-hop beats, and odd found sounds was beginning to sound worn. As indicated on such tracks as "Looking For A Song" and "Harrow Road," carrying on seemed to have become something of a burden for Jones, who increasingly turned to '60s-derived guitar riffs and simple pop melodies. The rhythm section remained too far down in the mix to induce dancing, and the tape inserts--well, Jones was still no Pink Floyd. Obviously, by whatever name they chose, Big Audio needed to rethink their approach. The release of Higher Power, late in the fall buying season and without promotion, seemed to indicate that, despite the success of the band's previous album, The Globe, it was no longer in sync with its record company and that, perhaps, this was a contractual obligation album. In any case, it was the group's first album to miss the charts.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo