ALBUM REVIEW: Tyketto 'Reach' for glorious past and launch into a new future

WITH 25 years having passed since the release of ‘Don’t Come Easy’ Tyketto are due to release new album ‘Reach’ on 14th October.

And, it does live up to the mighty legacy of the band.

Having toured extensively for five years playing venues as diverse as The Diamond Rock club in Ahoghill Northern Ireland to US rock cruises the new line up of Danny Vaughn - vocals, Michael Clayton Arbeeny - drums, Chris Green (Pride, Furyon, Rubicon Cross) - guitars, Ged Rylands (Rage of Angels) - keyboards and Chris Childs (Thunder) - bass, decided to decamp to the Rockfield Studios in Wales, famous for Queen and Rush and many recording there, to lay down some new material, their first album in 4 years.

So how would the new additions fare?

Album opener ‘Reach’ is an easy tempo opener with a mix of acoustic and electric guitar that has a bit of a Queen feel to it. It also features a nice keyboard line from Rylands and Green hints at what’s to come on the rest of the album with a really sweet solo.

‘Big Money’ is the first sign of a heavier Tyketto sound with a mid to fast tempo riff and driving rhythm section. It features a slower middle section before building to a really smooth solo from Green.

Track three, ‘Kick Like a Mule’ does exactly what it says on the tin with a fast paced tempo to it. An acoustic section hides the fact that an awesome riff and solo are to come. A great song.

“Circle The Wagons” is the first power ballad on the album with a nice clean guitar tone from Green and complimentary keyboards from Rylands. Again Green the mark on his solo and you begin to reaffirm for yourself what a fantastic vocalist Danny Vaughn is. His vocals throughout are right on the money, no more so than on next song ‘I Need it Now’, where his delivery and diction are just about perfect. The huge chorus and back ground vocals have Tyketto stamped all over them.

‘Tearing Down The Sky’ is another song with a huge chorus. A slow intro with a great riff and solo where Green gets to flex his shredding muscles.

‘Letting Go’ is a lovely mid tempo acoustic song with great melodies and more fantastic guitar work from Green (There may be a theme developing here....)

Track eight, ‘The Fastest Man Alive’ has a great hard rock groove to it slightly reminiscent of Extreme. The funky guitar and rhythm section really makes this song.

‘Remember My Name’ has a down’n’dirty feel to it which is only added to by a bit of harmonica. The harmony vocals again are fantastic on this.

‘Sparks Will Fly’ is another song with some serious funk and groove to it. Some nice bass from Childs and background vocals are the perfect platform for Greens guitar work.

‘Scream’ is on the surface a guitar led ballad but Rylands’ keyboard prowess coming to the fore. It also includes a nice string arrangement. The highlight though is Vaughn’s passionate and moving vocals.

Final song ‘The Run’ has an acoustic intro before developing into a definitive Tyketto song, a bit of a throwback to Don’t Come Easy.

The addition of Green, Rylands and Childs has given the band a new lease of life both live and artistically.

Don’t Come Easy has been lauded as one of the best albums in its genre since its release. It would be no surprise if, in time ‘Reach’ is held in the same high esteem.....it really is that good!

Review by Andy Gillen

Reflections on Vaughn, 'Thrax and SLF

IN every reviewers life there comes a time to put aside the notepad and the carefully hewn phrase from the bedrock of lingual sources and just enjoy the fecking gig.

Amongst the amateur crowd there is a temptation to assume that the wide world of the 'tinterweb gives them carte blanche to type their views, without ever realising that a little used 19th century law 'technically' means they must have permission to review. In the modern era the '+1' is that tacit permission, or a specific referral by the record label or publicist.

That is why it is important to distinguish - and we always do - between reviews and reflections.

So these are reflections on three recent gigs - Danny Vaughn at the Diamond, Anthrax in Limelight (1) and SLF at the Ulster Hall.

The précis of the reflections? Well all three performances can be summed up in two wordsw: "FUCKING AWESOME!"

Classic adult-orinetated rock, thrash metal and Belfast punk - all FUCKING AWESOME in their own sweet indistinguishable way.

All three acts had several things in common - a considerable back catalogue to draw upon; more recent and in some cases brand new tracks; and a professional, yet engaging ability to connect with their audience.

Danny Vaughn's acoustic solo set was an example of what intimate gigs should be, up close and personal, able to chat with individual members of the audience and draw from right back to Waysted days to up to date Tyketoo songs.

Anthrax went right back to Deathrider and up to date with new tracks, of which Fight 'Em Til You Can't Fight No More is outstanding.

SLF drew from Inflammable Material through to two new tracks Trail of Tears and My Dark Time. And hats off and considerable kudos to Jake Burns. It taskes a real man to share his pain live and onstage.

The son of Belfast 14 stood in front of a packed Ulster Hall to say that the new album had been delayed because he had been suffering from depression, but it work was now well underway - My Dark Time explained it more in song.

So, we applaud and bow down to Jake for his honesty and candour and we hope he knows all our thoughts are with him: and equally if any of you out there are feeling similarly, please speak to someone, call a helpline, just get help and surround yourself with people who care.

There - reflections not a review. Danny Vaughn, who could be a journeyman but who has the voice to amaze and stun; Anthrax, possibly more fierce and more fun than ever; and SLF, sons of Ulster with the flame of youth burning brighter than when they were young.

We'd like to leave you with this thought, taken from an SLF t-shirt "Assume Nothing: Question Everything!"

And, remember, if you feel stressed or depressed, get help because you are valuable to you and all those that care about you!

AOR, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal....FUCKING AWESOME and more honest and challenging than any numptie on wank-factor...

Tyketto Dig in Deep and produce a gem

THE first time I came across the fine pipes of Mr Danny Vaughn was when he was lending his talents to the wonderfully shambolic Mr Pete Way's side project Waysted. Waysted were supporting Status Quo at a now closed Belfast Leisure Centre. In front of a packed audience Mr Vaughn won a lot of admirers, not least with performances of Heaven Tonight and How The West Won.

Since the 1986 release of Save Your Prayers with Waysted the versatile vocalist has appeared on 15 albums, the latest of which 'Dig In Deep' is currently on release, and yet again it proves that Danny appears happiest in a band setting.

Dig In Deep offers no real surprises in terms of what you'd expect from Tyketto, AOR with panache, but with a subtle understanding of the components that make up a truly great hard rock album.

Faithless, as an opener sets the tone for what is to come, a dynamic track punctuated with guitars set at the right level of riffage and solos; while Danny displays a range that many an upcoming singer would envy.

And there is a maturity about Dig In Deep, that suggests, lyrically, a reflective tone, exemplified by 'The Fight Left In Me' and the title track, which unfortuately for a great track, dips in the chorus's play-out despite a fantastic pre-chorus build-up

Minor quibbles, however, can be identified: 'Battle Lines' sounds a little predictable and a touch schamltzy. But that is to nit-pick.

'Here's Hoping It Hurts' is a tour de force fuck you to relationship killers and 'This Is How We Say Goodbye' is an album closer that comes from the hearty; a folksy coda. The narrative of love could also be read in the lyric "...family is what matters most of all" as an emphasis of how a band setting - and Tyketto in particular - is where the members, and the trio of original members Brooke St James, Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Clayton especially, can be at ease to produce damn fine tunes.

One can only hope that is not how Tyketto wants to say goodbye.

There is too much talent in this band, and too much talent in the pipes of Mr Vaughn for Tyketto to have this as a swansong. Dig in Deep is currently on release worldwide - fans of hard rock, only two words...Buy It!