The Ace – Riot Of Sound (We Dig This) new album out now!

It’s always great to get the latest release from excellent Leeds band, The Ace, so when their new album, ‘Riot Of Sound’, dropped through my letter box there was certainly an air of excitement.

 

You’ll be pleased to know that I wasn’t disappointed and this truly under-rated band have delivered the goods yet again.

 

I’m always loath to compare songs and bands to artists or genres from the past, but unless I give some reference points then I can’t really give you the review that The Ace and yourselves deserve.

 

‘Riot Of Sound’ it most certainly is, and The Ace have developed a fantastic mid/late 60s Garage sound that I really like. The album opens with ‘Somewhere In The Back Of My Mind’ which consolidates their garage credentials and is a great opener. Then comes the magnificent ‘Man Out Of Time’ that had the hairs on my neck standing up – starting with wonderful bass-line that combines The Zombies ‘She’s Not There’ with The Jam’s ‘Monday’, the songs builds, then stops, then builds again with Nige’s vocal style working really well (with more reflections of The Zombies as the song moves on). Superb.

 

‘I Dream Love’ is built around a very nice Rubber Soul/Revolver era riff whilst ‘The Loser’s Game’ has a West Coast, almost Byrds-like feel about it. ‘Take My Love’ is another super track, as is ‘Into The Action’ with it’s Liam Gallagher ‘Act-shun’ enunciation. A short instrumental (except for vocal oohs and ahs) sounds like very early Syd Barrett Pink Floyd.

 

I really like ‘Misunderstood’, which builds on subject matter previously visited on earlier recordings by The Ace. Jonny hits the microphone more towards the later stages of the album and we are treated to the harder sound of ‘Food Of The Gods’ and ‘Eating Excitement’. ‘Daddy Don’t Worry is another great track whilst the album’s anthemic finale, ‘Another Teenage Life Is Wasted’, has a driving bass-line that brought The Untouchables’ ‘Free Yourself’ to my mind.

In summary, this is another ace album in both name and description – if you like your music in the ’65-’67 garage-esque styling, but with so much more, then this is the album for you. 

The Ace deserve more UK radio exposure (although they are big on the US College radio scene), more gigs, and more releases – perhaps their inclusion in scene related compilation releases would help to get their music out to more of you. In the meantime, buy this album (available on CD and download) via: - 

www.wedigthistheace.blogspot.co.uk