"Captain Kidd" kicks off the new release from Irish Rockers Tempest. This is the third song that they have done about Pirates, and becomes a precursor to what this CD is going to be like. The Double-Cross doesn't only start just like Balance, but also has the same reference to execution "Hangman" sounds an awful lot like "Iron Lady". But all originality is not lost. Even though "Slippery Slide" will remind you greatly of "Battle Mountain Breakdown", Tempest introduces two new ideas. The first, "Black Eddy" is an all-out jam, combining Irish, Country, Polka, and Greek musical styles. "Whoever You Are" follows, and is one of the most accessible, straightforward songs that Tempest has performed. This song would fit on any Saw Doctors album.
The reworking of the traditional tune "Per Spelmann" seems to break the originality of the CD, but on multiple listens tends to be one of the CD's high points. In fact, the last 4 songs on the CD are reworkings of traditional tunes (although "Wizards Walk" is something unto itself). All are enjoyable, but like Runrig tend to leave the listener wanting just a little more.
And this realization leads me to what has always been my complaint about Tempest albums. The songwriting lacks a sense of explosive creativity. This is a Jam band that take interesting licks, combines them into pretty good tunes and throws in some story-teller type lyrics.
Luckily, The Double-Cross contains mostly instrumentals and reworked traditional tunes. The folk sensabilities of bands like the Waterboys just aren't present, except for "Whoever You Are". The instrumental songs on The Double-Cross are pretty darn good, led by the stunning "Vision Quest". If you find a distraction during "Hangman" and "Eppy Moray", this actually is one of Tempest's better efforts. If you like Irish music with power, than once again, you will like Tempest.
Track Listing
1. Captain Kidd (4:25)
2. Slippery Slide (3:05)
3. Hangman (4:47)
4. Black Eddy (5:29)
5. Whoever You Are (4:13)
6. Vision Quest (5:42)
7. Per Spelmann (3:52)
8. Cabar Feidh (3:12)
9. Eppy Moray (5:36)
10. Wizard's Walk (10:12)
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