Young Gun Silver Fox - 'Ticket To Shangri-La' Released 21st October 2022

In this instance, ‘Silver Fox’ is Anglo-American producer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee and ‘Young Gun’ is soul singer and song writer Andy Platts. Andy’s been releasing music since at least 2007 but, to be fair, he does look like he can still pull off the ‘young’ bit for now and I guess it’s all relative. Some might also know him from the classy soul-pop band Mamas Gun.

YGSF have already released three albums. The first two were called ‘West End Coast’ and ‘AM Waves’ and those titles along with their super-smooth and laid-back style saw them firmly categorised as ‘Yacht Rock’. That deck shoe fits but there’s always been a bit more to them than that. On this release, you can still picture the ocean but there’s even more of a dance groove going on. They’ve definitely upped the soul-stylings but you can’t fail to warm to their smooth 70s or 80s pop-rock and you’ll definitely pick up hints of the afore-mentioned Hall & Oates, the quality playing of the likes of Steely Dan and maybe even a bit of Shalamar.

There are some cracking songs and arrangements on here; all beautifully produced and all with lush harmonies and lashings of brass and horns. After a couple of plays, it’s the acoustic and infectious ‘West Side Jet’ that will be living rent-free in your head. It is very polished and upbeat with a feel-good vibe. ‘Winners’ might be the most yachty track on offer and you could easily imagine Michael McDonald doing backing vocals on that one and is that Stevie Wonder on harmonica?

‘Rolling Back’ rolls like a yacht-rock version of a Simply Red song but better, of course. ‘Simple Imagination’ really ups the laid-back 70s funk quotient and there’s a groovy sax solo – of course there is. Shawn might have sacked off the ‘Just for Men’ for his barnet but he absolutely nails the groove on the funky and brilliant ‘Tip of the Flame’ and that allows Andy’s vocal to soar; there’s even a hint of ‘Off the Wall’ era Michael Jackson on this and it’s joyful.

This record really does take me back to the days of staying up late and listening to FM radio under the covers and is probably best heard in the dark of the wee small hours. You might need the heating on for the cold Autumn nights though. Actually, it’s probably cheaper just to buy a f*cking yacht!

The boys will be bringing some warmth to London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow stages in late January. They might find that the West Coast of Scotland is a bit chillier than America but Rockfiend will be at Audio, Glasgow on 28th January. It should be a toasty one.

If you can’t wait until 21st October there is a very short teaser video here; 'Ticket To Shangri-La' - Side 1 teasers