The Embrooks have picked up where they left off back in 2004 on their second album Yellow Glass Perspections, while expanding their sound somewhat with organ and flute here and there. This is definitely a welcome, positive and long-overdue comeback.
England’s premiere three-piece Freakbeat band reunited in 2016 with their fine “Nightmare / Helen” single, and the a-side is included on We Who Are. It’s only fitting that a full-length album should follow – albeit, after a two-year wait. Still, it was worth the wait. Everyone sounds refreshed and ready to rock out here.
I was a bit worried as to how the Embrooks would replicate their sound from Toe Rag Studios’ vintage EMI Recording equipment for this third album. But they’ve done a beautiful job in achieving this after shifting sessions We Who Are to their new label’s North Down Sound Studios. I think the excellent lead off track “Going But Not Gone” answers this with no doubt in anyone’s mind.
The Embrooks haven’t done too many covers in the past, but when they have, they’ve shown good taste in what songs they’ve chosen. In this case, it’s the Searchers’ upbeat “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” which fits in quite well. The band puts their patented charged-up stamp on it, while remaining faithful to the original ’60s version. “Riot on Kingsland Road” is an example of that sound expansion, with a flute adding just the right color fills to this riotous excellent hard fuzz rocker. It’s the best song on the album, among many fab tunes.
The mid-tempo rockers “Til Tomorrow” and “Human Living Vampire” also expand their sound to more Byrds-like jangle, with 12-string guitar upfront instead of fuzz. “Baby From the South,” a very cool moody mid-tempo to fuzz rocker, features the excellent harmonies from bassist Matt “Mole” Lambert and guitarist Alessandro Cozzi-Lepri that we know and love. Let’s not forget about powerhouse drummer Lois Tozer, who drives these songs just as hard as the guys do here.
Their American influences come to the surface on “Peace of Mind,” as the Embrooks offer a haunting tune influenced by Buffalo Springfield and the Byrds. “Hang Up,” another cool song, adds organ and fuzz and wah-wah to a rocker that recalls Spencer Davis Group or Cream circa 1967. This should be on everyone’s car radio! “You Can If You Want” is a Cream-influenced head-banger if there ever was one, complete with blues harp.
Let’s hope the Embrooks don’t take another 14 years to release a fourth studio project, and that they’re back for good after this excellent reunion album.
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