Jul 142 min read

Atlantic - 'Another World'

The songs themselves are excellent from start to finish; they’re well written and well performed, standing tall next to those from 1994.

It’s a strange thing, when a follow-up is released to an album you love, thirty years after the debut; even more so, when there are major line-up changes. There’s a nervousness, a hesitance even, to that first listen. A fear that it might somehow tarnish your view of the original. Daft perhaps, but no less real as a result. This was how I felt when ‘Another World’ dropped unexpectedly into my inbox. If you hadn’t guessed already, I’m a huge fan of Atlantic’s debut, ‘Power’, originally released in 1994, then reissued in 2008. Strangely, I’d been listening to that album a lot in the weeks before I received this record. I pressed play and, sixty seconds later, all those fears were gone. ‘Another World’ is emotive, engaging and catchy as hell. It’s incredibly melodic, but with enough of an edge to keep things interesting. It’s awash with affecting keyboard melodies and glorious guitars. This is pretty much everything I love about Melodic Rock. In short... it’s fantastic!

Guitarist, songwriter and Atlantic keystone Simon Harrison remains, but original vocalist and co-writer Phil Bates (Trickster, ELO Part II) has gone, replaced in both roles by Mark Grimmett. An entirely new set of musicians are in place - many being former members of Grim Reaper. Despite these huge changes, the songs fit really well under the Atlantic banner. The lead vocals occasionally lack the level of immediacy or exuberance found on the debut, but they’re communicative, controlled and more subtlety impassioned – it might just take fans a couple of listens to fully appreciate them.

The songs themselves are excellent from start to finish; they’re well written and well performed, standing tall next to those from 1994. I have to highlight ‘Without Love’; a simple, powerful and catchy ballad with great guitar riffs and a seductive solo. Not only is it as good as anything on the debut, it’s as good as anything I’ve heard this year. ‘Nothing More’ is another simple, but stellar song that addresses a universal feeling; it’s heartfelt, disarming and the keyboards sound superb. The thematically similar ‘Missing You’ follows, and it’s just as good.

This is simply a great album full of memorable melodies and infectious hooks. It has so many ingredients I love, skilfully combined to make a thoroughly enjoyable record. Escape Music has an absolute winner with ‘Another World’.