Vantage Point - 'Just Want You'

The title track of July’s monthly offering from Vantage Point is superb both musically and vocally. There’s no self-indulgent intro; it hits full speed within seconds and motors along at full throttle for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, pausing only for a blazing guitar solo and a short, quiet breakdown section. Quality stuff perhaps reminiscent of high-tempo Bonnet-era Rainbow?

It’s a 4 track EP this month. As usual with Vantage Point, it benefits from outstanding cover art – this time a brown eyed lady in a hat who is possibly the sexiest cartoon character I’ve seen since Lois Griffin.

There’s also a surprise cover song; a timely version of Spandau Ballet’s “To Cut a Long Story Short”. It’s release has conveniently coincided with the spoof BBC comedy “The Kemps: All True” broadcast. The hipster TV critics didn’t like this show but I thought it was a proper piss-myself-laughing piss-take. On this version, the band stay true to the original; replacing the synths with guitars and chucking in another toasty Liam Kane solo. Simples. But very effective.

The other two songs feature guest singers. Lissa Robertson is back to lend a female vocal perspective to “Laid Back Lad” and it works nicely. Lissa does well again but I do hope we get to hear Murray Graham camping it up on this song at some point too.

The last track is called “Shine Your Light” and features Mark Stewart’s alternative lyrics and gruff vocals over the top of a quite fantastic riff. The ‘real’ version of the song will actually be entitled “Pay As You Go” and will be released as a Vantage Point single next month. This alternative version is interesting but personally I can’t wait to hear Murray’s take on it on the real thing, so roll on August. Maybe if we’re lucky we might even get one of Mr Mitchell’s trademark Lego videos to go with it?