Elly Roberts reviews
The Morenas: The Whole And The Half
Distributed by
Bleach Records
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Essex based The Morenas are one helluva rock band.
They deserve to be massive, really massive. Based on their dazzling performance
at
Oswestry Music Live 2005,
they’re my tip to hit the big-time, soon. From the very go they commanded
attention, sparkling up the sweltering Sunday afternoon.
The trio of swarthy heartthrob Paolo Morena – lead vocals/guitar, Tim Jackson
– bass and Steve Wilson – drums was the standout act of the day. Their
freewheeling and cavalier attitude was refreshing and bold. Whole And
The Half is their very impressive long-awaited debut on Bleach Records,
where they’ve captured the spirit of their extraordinary live shows.
With most of the tracks written by showman Paolo Morena, the solid band
show off their technique with credibility, style, and substance.
Formed to pursue an adrenalin-fuelled mix of melody, rhythm and rock, with a
pinch of melancholy, they’re turning into real trailblazers, having already
played a live session on Janice Long’s BBC Radio 2 slot. Paolo, who alone is
a star in the making, loves his high energy riffs, caught to perfection on
the soaring I Just Wanna Be Someone (a definite single!).
Packing as big a punch, high octane Leave Me Alone, is even more
impressive, with Paolo’s impassioned vocals running a thread throughout. 21st
Century Curse is right out of the 70s ‘classic rock’ songbook – rasping riffs
and picks aplenty.
Amongst the blood and thunder, they can flip into a (slightly) mellower mode
with great empathy on 70s inspired soft-rocker Youth Juice. Talking of the
70s, Filthy has more than just a Thin Lizzy nod to it. On a lighter
note, acoustic strummed Caroline’s Dream, (in memory of Caroline
Baker), a fluttering ballad with swirling strings, is one of the album’s
main highlights.
Strings and brass support the divinely melancholic Katherine’s Undone,
showing their maturity in handling sensitive songs. No album like this would
be rubber stamped without a climax – thunderous Drove (another single
maybe?) provides a monster ending.
The Morenas haven’t delivered a classic song as yet: it’s not far away.
Look out for latest single My Violent Femme.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
