Americana Music Reviews

In this day and age of prepackaged foods, preprogrammed entertainment, and rapidly produced formula-based rock music, Witness UK is a breath of fresh air. This British quintet believes in making music the old fashioned way, with lots of thought and diligent studio work. Subsequently, Under A Sun is a rock album brimming with tight harmonies, flowing lyrics, and expertly performed music heavily laden with stunning guitar work.

Honestly, I thought that work ethic and craftsmanship like this in rock music was very much a thing of the past. Under A Sun seems to take its cue from the heyday of the vinyl LP, when studio work was detailed and time-consuming. In those days music was a statement, not just a way to make a fast buck. That is the feeling that Witness UK emits on its second international release.

Under A Sun is twelve tracks of beautifully orchestrated music, nicely layered harmonies, and finely crafted songs in the style of such great bands as the Moody Blues or King Crimson. In fact, there are many tracks on this album when Gerard Starkie's throaty vocals sound hauntingly like those of Justin Hayward. If you've ever wondered what bands like the Moody Blues would sound like today if they had continued to keep their material fresh and up to date, Witness UK is probably an excellent barometer. This is that old school rock where the music is driven by guitars, and accented with rolling bass lines, power percussion, and crystal clear keyboards.

Witness UK consists of Starkie on vocals, Ray Chan on guitar, Dylan Keeton on bass, John Langley on drums, and Julian Pransky-Poole on keyboards and nearly every other instrument heard on the album. Chan's lithe and incredibly flowing guitar work combined with Starkie's smoky voice weaves an instantly recognizable tapestry throughout this album that defines the Witness UK sound. And while this sound does borrow heavily from some of the UK bands that have gone before, Witness has blended this sound with some original, sometimes fantastic lyrics to make the sound distinctly its own.

Under A Sun is a collection of songs that I feel will be able to stand the test of time. I can see it as an album, that from time to time, will find its way into the CD player whenever I am in need of a real rock fix, in much the way I periodically find that those classic albums from the '70s still manage to make it onto the turntable. It will invoke feelings and memories from a time before I was follically challenged, and may even lead me back to the attic to see if I can locate that ancient and forgotten hookah.

*Witness UK is waiting to give you your dose of rock and retrospection. While MCA still maintains a Wintness UK site at www.mcarecords.com/artistMain.asp?artistid=260, Island/MCA has dropped the band. There is an excellent "unofficial" site at www.witness.fsnet.co.uk/, where you can learn all about the band and their music.

You can contact Scott Snidow at: scott-at-rockzilla.net

 
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