Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
It’s not a sound a listener might expect to have come from the gateway to the west, a city that is more in touch arguably with the Chicago Blues, heavy rock, the sound of Jazz and Gospel naturally permeate the city skyline and the luminance of Robert Lamm and the brilliance of Peter Cetera hang heavy over the city’s past and possibly the future. Yet for Chicago-based JoyFocus the sound that weaves its way through the past like a hi-speed chase involving a one armed man and an irate and falsely accused Doctor is both invigorating and encompassing.
Random Access Digital Audio Heresy sees Rikk Currence and Holly Joy come up with an album that somehow doesn’t seem to fit in with the establishment of Chicago’s past contributions to the world of music but ploughs its own furrow and with a jet packed engine underneath its sizeable hood and offers a new insight into how the Mid-West should be seen and heard. Audio heresy perhaps in many eyes but this is a set of songs that really get to grips to being part of the 21st Century and the appeal of encompassing hybrid of Rock and Pop; a controlled explosion which gets to the very heart of the matter of being influenced by the past but not allowing it to dominate the future.
The thunder of the instruments, the ever increasing embers that join up and turn up the heat are counteracted by the softness of Holly Joy’s meaningful and overwhelming vocals, it is sound of that rich combination that shakes the apathy out of the listener. America may have lost its place in the way of being one of the cornerstones of the Metal but in groups like JoyFocus there is great hope that its pop can rival the country scene and flourish to the point where the old guard is, not swept away exactly but given more of natural respect that doesn’t come with shoving it down the people’s necks every few minutes.
There are some real treats, some absolute gems, to be found on Random Access Digital Audio Heresy. Tracks such as Gone, Revolution, Clearly and Break are to be applauded for what they bring to the table and the sense of uniqueness that exists within the heart of each song. It is a unique perspective captured by the two artists and what they have done has taken talent and wit to put together and not allow themselves to be shoe horned by the sheer pressure that comes from a city dominated by many ghosts and spectres.
There is a joy to be found in the art of focusing on the future, Random Access Digital Audio Heresy lays the ground work for it happen.
Ian D. Hall