This review was published in the May issue of Classic Rock magazine, no. 274.
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Storm Dennis who? Immerse yourself in the easy, breezy rhythms of Young Gun Silver Fox’s 2020 instalment.
Opening track Kids is an ode to vintage nostalgia, evoking images of West Coast sun and hopelessly aesthetic American convertibles. The duo’s staple harmonies take centre stage on Who Needs Words, and a horn section manages never to overpower the clean guitar and smooth, funk undertone. Overlapping backing vocals create a beautiful melodic curtain in Long Distance Love Affair; Danny Jamaica, about the friendly neighbourhood weed dealer, is upbeat and energetic, the antithesis of piano ballad All This Love (“Just tell me, what am I supposed to do with all this love cause it’s going to waste.”) Along with Things We Left Unsaid, the closing numbers of the record are soulful tales entwined with wistful regret and the gentlest of vocals.
Canyons departs from the lightness of West End Coast and AM Waves, showcasing heavier synths. A tour-de-force of contemporary yacht rock, Andy Platts and Shawn Lee have successfully continued their revival of a bygone era in the most sophisticated of ways – a spectacular record.
9/10