After a couple of months break from reviewing new albums I was intrigued to see what Classic Rock or Prog gems our Editor would dig out to mark my return. Clearly he was laughing himself silly when deciding to provide an album of jazz / soul / funk /dub, all genres I have never had a great deal of sympathy for. Barry Adamson does come with some (admittedly tenous) rock connections by virtue of playing bass at one time or another with Magazine, Visage and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and this outing marks his 8th solo album. On opener 'The Beaten Side of Town' the vocals are more or less spoken rather than sung, and there is a laid back, late night feel that is marginally reminiscent of Robbie Robertson. The more upbeat 'Spend A Little Time' starts off reasonably well but goes on and on and the same can be said of instrumental 'Shadow of Death Hotel' which is the kind of filler you would find on a Bond soundtrack or similar.  

Elsewhere the easy listening MOR ballad 'I Could Love You' brings to mind Barry Manilow and if that isn't enough to stop you reading I'm not sure what is. 'Walk on Fire' redeems the album by evoking images of a smouldering city but this is a temporary respite as the gloomy 'Flight' drags its heels amidst plenty of offbeat trumpeteering. By the time the chirpy 'Civilization' kicks Adamson has lost the plot altogether with some of the naffest rhyming couplets this side of the last Hammerfall album.  

Difficult to recommend this to regular HRH readers, it's all very moody and sophisticated but the whole thing plays out like the backdrop to an obscure 60's movie.

Let us know your views on Back To The Cat

Track Listing

The Beaten Side of Town
Straight 'Til Sunrise
Spend A Little Time
Shadow of Death Hotel
I Could Love You
Walk on Fire
Flight
Civilization
People
Psycho_Sexual