The Gliders - Clear Blue Skies

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2000
Time: 43:59 
Size: 101,5 MB 
Label: Shaker Records
Styles: Blues Rock/Indie Rock/Americana
Art: Full 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Snakes & Ladders - 4:42
 2. Mercy 17 - 3:08
 3. Happy Man - 3:42
 4. Maybe You're Lonely - 4:39
 5. Trinity - 4:18
 6. Stare At The Sun - 3:31
 7. Waiting For Your Lies - 4:01
 8. Wasp In Autumn - 3:56
 9. Move On - 3:29
10. Storm Warning - 3:49
11. Temptation - 4:38

The Gliders play earthy, acoustic pop rhythm and blues - the sort that makes you want to stomp your feet and slide your hips. Theirs is all original material, written by Sean Lyons (12-string guitar) and Andy Taylor (lead vocals and harmonica), who started to write together after discovering a mutual love of Leadbelly and swamp music. Third member Morris Windsor plays hard-hitting drums and percussion, standing up 'live', with minimal kit almost to rival that of Tom McCrum of Tandy. Less can be more and Windsor is right there giving a distinctive beat - and singing backing vocals. It's a disconcertingly big sound from a no-nonsense small band which translates perfectly to the stage.  B.J. Cole helps out on pedal steel on a couple of album tracks but their definitive sound is provided by Lyons' acoustic swampy riffs and Taylor's blues harmonica. Live, Taylor's vocals are a fiery, shout-out growling howl. On the album, they are more subtly bluesy and he uses a trick to distort his voice through the harmonica mike on a couple of tracks. And then there are ballads where he taps a more melodious and bittersweet vein. Overall the album's a gem - to play again and again. In these days of desperately average music 'Clear Blue Skies' sparkles with real talent and integrity.  These guys have quite a pedigree. Taylor was lead vocalist with the Jazz Devils; Lyons has played with George Clinton, Robyn Hitchcock and Brian Kennedy; Windsor is a founder member of The Soft Boys and the Egyptians. The album's opening track, Snakes and Ladders, has been used in 'Lock Stock and 4 Stolen Hooves' and will be released on the film's compilation album.

Clear Blue Skies