CD Reviews

After asking three of them to bring original songs to the project the five set to work committing them to tape at the world famous ToeRag studios, and 'The ToeRag Sessions' was born.

"Why would I be writing about this on a Guernsey based website?" I hear you ask, well it's because one of these tracks was written by, and the EP is co-produced by, the one and only Mark Le Gallez currently of Thee Jenerators and previously The Risk.

There is only word to describe the sound produced on this CD and that is Mod. Shamelessly looking back to the 1960's and evoking the sound of The Kinks, The Who and many others the disc's three tunes all give off this retro feel, while not becoming stuck totally in the past.

The first track, Simon Stebbing's 'Soul Searching', really lays the foundations of this by sounding like a pop-rock hit from the late 60's especially due to its use of Fay Hallam's Hammond, but also uses a much more modern guitar sound to create a piece of music that bridges decades seamlessly.

Mark Le Gallez.

Mark Le Gallez's 'Love & Understanding' comes next and continues the notion of spanning eras by taking the sound he's become known for locally in Thee Jenerators and slowing it down slightly to once again accommodate the Hammond but loosing none of the energy his music is known for.

Again on this song the more retro elements were tempered by a modern guitar and drum sound and the complete package had definite elements of The Who's more Mod and R 'n' B moments.

The trio of songs is rounded off by a slice of Hammond based pop from Fay Hallam of Makin' Time and The Fay Hallam Trinity. This is probably the most unashamedly 60's sounding track on the disc, thanks to its use of a Hammond as lead instrument.

As with all the songs on the EP the retro feel is no bad things as it serves as a great introduction to the sound of the continuing mod scene that exists outside of the mainstream in the UK, while also celebrating the great sound that was pioneered in years past.