Vantage Point - 'On Target'

The title track “On Target” displays all the characteristics we’ve come to love from the band with galloping rhythm from James Mitchell and a chugging riff and tasteful solo from stalwart guitarist, Liam Kane, but the added secret sauce ingredient this time is a very healthy infusion of keyboards throughout the album which brings a further touch of class and really elevates things to the next level. As always, Murray Graham brings rumbling bass and stunning vocals but he’s twice as good on this song when his voice is double-tracked on the chorus and it comes off like a duet between Justin Hawkins and Rob Halford – top-quality stuff.

The guitar and keys work beautifully together on the very classy recent single “End of the Line” and the excellent “Leave It”, before Matthew Bartlett’s Hammond organ takes the spotlight on the outstanding “Unlike Any Woman” which absolutely screams Jon Lord and ‘Burn’ era Deep Purple.

Of the songs we’ve heard before, every one gets a boost and a polish, most notably the ‘shagging’ song “Can’t Wait for Her Love” which is totally vajazzled by a ‘Jump’ style synth takeover unlike anything we’ve heard from the band before.

The “Just Want You” single was one of the highlights of last year and its stunning cover art featuring the recurring sexier-than-Jessica Rabbit cartoon character, Abbie Long, even inspired me to buy a T-shirt (there’s a fine selection on the band’s web page). Abbie’s on the album cover again and this time the song also benefits from a splash of keyboards and a slight title tweak.

By way of variety, the band also re-package the gossamer ballad “Dear Lou” along with a piano-based reprise “Endear Lou” (hints of Jon Anderson on this) and there’s also the positively show-tuney “Stars Align” which gets a big backing-vocal production job.

The album is available on all of the usual streaming outlets from Friday 7th January but I would highly recommend heading over to Bandcamp and buying the CD with the option to add a top-quality magazine featuring lyrics, band history and lots of other interesting content, including a healthy dose of Abbie Long. It really is a bold step for a small independent band to take but they are smart and innovative and should be rewarded for going the extra mile and displaying great initiative, with a particular shout out to the Lego master, James Mitchell, for his efforts in promoting the band.

Definitely my album of the year so far.