Romeo's Daughter: Slipstream

It's been far too long since Romeo's Daughter graced us with a full album. Their last album, the excellent Spin came out in 2015 and since then the band has undergone near tragedy and recruited a new bassist in the imposing shape of perma-sunglassed Steve Drennan.

"Over You" sets things off in a suitably pop rock style and the most noticeable feature is how guitar orientated things are compared to the classic early albums which featured heavy use of keyboards. Everything which is up next is an insistent modern pop rock tune where guitarist and songwriter Craig Joiner excels on the six strings. Vocalist Leigh Matty shows that she hasn't lost any of her skills on the absolutely lovely "How Does it Feel" replete with sensitive solo by Mr Joiner.

"Inseparable" shows a more rocking side of the band powered by the rhythm section of the aforementioned Steve Drennan and long term sticksman Andy Welsford who I'm sure used to be credited as 'Wells'. "Rumour" has echoes of "Sugar Daddy" from 1993's Delectable possibly because of Leigh Matty's sensuous vocals and the mid tempo nature of the tune.

If there was a side two we'd now be flipping things over for "Thinkin About You" (no idea why there's no apostrophe) which cranks the guitars up in a mannered, sophisticated way before "Time of Your Life" which would be the obvious single if they were still a thing, it's instant earworm territory and is typical of the mature pop rock on this splendid album. "Good Man Gone Bad" is a bit heavier without ever threatening to stray into Slayer territory but does of course, have a memorable chorus. Continuing the songs with the word 'man' in the title theme "I'll Make a Man Out of You" features arguably Matty's best vocal on the album (she's great on everything to be fair) and more superb work from the fretboard of Craig Joiner. "Fake" which concludes the album is co-written by Joiner and Matty and is absolutely designed to get the crowd going in a live setting and finishes the album on a real high.

Romeo's Daughter aren't exactly prolific so we should celebrate each missive they send us but hopefully it won't be eight years before we get another because Slipstream is such a good album and worthy of a place in the band's fine canon.

Track Listing:

1. Over You
2. Everything
3. How Does it Feel
4. Inseparable
5. Rumour
6. Thinkin About You
7. Time of Your Life
8. Good Man Gone Bad
9. I'll Make a Man Out of You
10. Fake

Added: August 25th 2023
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1995
Language: english

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