Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Reuben Archer’s pedigree stands before him like an outstretched monument, adorned with the knowledge that it symbolises something extra, that little piece of musical ingenuity that many strive for but just fall short of. It also takes an incredible talent to pull the amount of superb guest musicians to perform on his debut solo album and when you have the supreme gift of genius as Magnum’s/Thunder’s Harry James, Status Quo’s John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, Neil Murray, the great Luke Morley and Paul Raymond on the album, then it’s not so much as a Personal Sin, but a statement of special intent.
We may all have our own personal sins to carry around like a millstone dragging on the floor of life but Reuben Archer’s is a flowing example of what rock music means to all who it touches, the flourishes, the manic edge that drives the tracks along like a forty tonne truck speeding along the American highway and with no concerns of stopping the gathering momentum of the vehicle. If it is a Personal Sin, then long may the crime keep being committed with absolute assurance that no jury will ever convict him of anything less than performing great music and with distinguished attitude!
On some albums the melee of having so many differing personalities crowding the process of making music can be damning, the fall out sometimes inevitable somewhere along the line but on Personal Sin, what come across is an album of great warmth, respect and overall a quality of music that just is staggeringly good.
From the obliterating opening of Bulletproof, through the gravitas of Desperation Train, the excellence of TV Junkie and Ace Cafe and a sublime and cool renditon of Time On My Hands there is so much to enjoy on the album that no matter what your own personal sin, it will soon be absolved as the judgement of others, the quality of musicianship takes hold. After such a long time playing and performing music, to finally release a debut album and one that has all the hallmarks of a cracking listen qualifies more than required listening, it stresses an importance in music appreciation.
Personal Sin is released on August 19th via Toxic Arrow Records.
Ian D. Hall