Reviewed by Paul Keeble

It's not every day you hear a song about Czech workers forced to make bombs for the Nazis, but that is the subject of the title track of 'Our Friends Our Enemies', the 2016 debut album from Flight Brigade. Led by husband and wife vocalists Ollie and Miriam Baines, the British/American rock-pop band offer a song with a big anthemic sound. One listen will bring all sorts of hints and flashbacks to other notable bands, eg the male/female vocals of Deacon Blue and the thunderous drums of Big Country. Ollie Baines has a superb voice and song for song this is excellent stuff, packed with memorable hooks and riffs, well written, well played and recorded with oomph. But I do have a criticism. After a while the big dramatic sounds - especially the drums which are mixed very loud - begin to grate. Only after several songs with the violin and piano intro on "Children Of Ohio" do we get a welcome change of pace. But even there the effect is diluted later in the song by over-busy drumming. We have to wait until closing tracks "When The Water Whispers", built around mandolin and violin, and "Thick As Thieves" for songs which take things down significantly and give breathing room. This album is still a bit of a grower. If you like quality, no-nonsense rock music and great songs recorded pretty much as they would be performed live, this is an album you should check out.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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