Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The last 12 months have been rotten for the arts, too many greats have passed on and left those of us behind with only memories and faded aspirations; this is no so more true as in the bitterest of moments of when a young and decent band is cruelly taken from their place in the section of future heroes and all because of an accident.

The outpouring of grief for Viola Beach, a band that had truly left its mark on all who had gone to see them, was enormous, the potential lost, the songs that would never be performed again, so young, so talented, now consigned to memory only. Thanks to the modern way of capturing music there is at least one way to keep the music going and in the posthumously released self titled album, Viola Beach, the song may have ended but the sound goes on.

It can be one of the worst things about music, the understanding that a point had been reached too early, that the expansion of time had not been afforded to the artists and their thoughts had not been able to magnify, to be sharpened beyond the initial set of songs that had been played live. Those in the audience who were fortunate enough to catch Viola Beach were at least afforded some pleasure at what could be and as the album progresses, the sadness of the situation is captured and slowly released, the explosion of energy that the band gave during a live performance remembered and each song then becomes a beacon of hope.

In the tracks Like A Fool, Drunk, Really Wanna Call and the exceptional Boys That Sing, the flood of warmth, of talent being nurtured and cared for is ready to be looked and heard with senses fresh and keen.

The past is gone, Viola Beach are worthy of being remembered for their energetic zeal, a band that were going to be big, of that there is no doubt, life can be so cruel; even if there is a memory to hold tight in the stereo, it is fragile, it is delicate and it must be cared for as much as possible.

Ian D. Hall