Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Terms & Conditions Apply may sound as foreboding as it is ominous but in the hands of cult hard rock band U.F.O.’s songwriter and rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond it is a statement of musical intent that shows just how influential and talented this talismanic Hertfordshire man is.
Paul Raymond may be better known for his work U.F.O. and the Michael Schenker Group but Terms & Conditions Apply by the Paul Raymond Project is an album of quality and distinction with some incredible small surprises mixed into the venture. Always endeavouring to make sure that the sound he creates is uppermost in the thoughts of the multitude who have listened to his work, whether in the early days with Savoy Brown or in his beloved U.F.O. band.
With work on the album starting in 2010, the songs on the album have a great rock feel which is typified by the energy that the listener can be grateful to wrap themselves in as they bang the music out at their pleasure.
Stand out tracks include the stinging and caustic C-list Celebrity with its wonderful barbed references to those who want to be famous for just being famous, the superb End Of Life As We Know It, the blinding album title track and the strong opener Born 7 Raised On Rock ‘N’ Roll.
A surprise on the album is Paul Raymond’s reading of the 1966m classic hit by the Motown group, the Four Tops, Reach Out (I’ll Be There). Whilst it doesn’t send the hairs standing on edgewith the same ferocity as Levi Stubbs powerful voice was able to do, it nonetheless is an excellent rendition. Heavier as you would expect it to be and with a cracking guest performance by former U.F.O. man Michael Schenker, it hits all the right notes and frames the album perfectly.
A great return for Paul Raymond and whilst U.F.O. may be the day job for the musician, these divergences into his own recordings are entertaining, upbeat and pure rock.
Terms & Conditions Apply is released on January 28th 2013 from Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records. .
Ian D. Hall.