Reviewed by Andy Long

A lot of the albums that reviewers receive vary in quality from average to abysmal, but just once in a while something comes through that knocks you out right from the first chord and keeps right on knocking you out with each successive track right up until the closing fade. This is one of those occasions. 'Boomerang' represents the pinnacle of the Splitters' achievement since their genesis umpteen years ago. It opens with the gig favourite "Holy Fire" which had me standing on the armchair chanting along fanatically. The band have opted to experiment with a touch of Celtic flavour and drafted in fiery French fiddler Jean-Pierre Rudolph who, combined with Adrian Thompson's Irish brogue, brings a very Pogueish sound to several numbers, most notably "Borderland". JPR also brought his penny whistle to the session and added a beautiful solo to the cover of Leslie Phillip's "Carry You". Also included is a stompin' version of Tanita Tikeram's "Twist In My Sobriety". Hottest track is "Nicholas Says", which would make a crackin' single. Cummings, I love you for sending me this album. Oh bliss, oh rapture, I think I'm going to speak in tongues...

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