Thunder will release their brand new studio album ‘Please Remain Seated’ on 18 January 2019 through BMG. The album, released as the band enter their third decade, is a collection of radically reworked versions of songs from throughout their extensive catalogue. This album will raise eyebrows, hackles and heartbeats in equal measure. ‘Please Remain Seated’ is the sound of a band taking a strange journey into their own music, but also distilling thirty years of playing together in order to create something truly compelling, taking in flavours of rock, blues, jazz and soul along the way. The album has been mastered at half speed for dynamic range. ‘She’s So Fine’ the first single from the album was released internationally on 19 October 2018 with the second single being ‘Miracle Man’ available now.
There’s a loose and informal exchange before ‘Bigger Than Both of Us’ jumps from the speakers with an unexpected jauntiness and swing. In a way it’s the biggest shock here on an album that came with prior warnings from the band that they’d taken a little more left-field approach to this album of reworked versions of much loved ‘tunes’ (as Danny might call them). But whatever you think of the jazzy thrust one thing is for certain – Danny’s voice is as wonderful as ever, and backed by some nice honky-tonk keys we make it to the end almost unscathed right to the Terry-Thomas like codicil ‘Damn it I think we might have it there’…
…and you know what my fine fellows? I think he might just be right. As if to rub it in the next song ends up being one of the biggest highlights here. ‘Future Train’ starts off all jangley, mystical and vaguely Eastern and keeps its low key edge before slowly building and growing till it’s fully-formed; fluid and sporting some wonderfully warm and soulful female backing vocals that really add to the song that always threatens to take off at the drop of a power chord but somehow manages to restrain itself!
The title ‘Girl’s Going Out Of Her Head’ of course is one that should be more familiar to even the most casual old school fan, back in the day this fiery rocker was an indispensable part of the set. It’s also one of the covers here that you really need to be on first name terms with the original to get the full force effect of the ‘re-imagining’.
Counted in with an ambling voice the jazzy swing of this one might be too much for some, but for me the taking of one of Thunder’s most unbridled rockers and turning into a lounge jazz number is the magic. It’s also quite nice to listen to the lyrics to this one!
Te album of course is full of gems and even if the odd song doesn’t quite click there’s plenty her to choose from. ‘Dreaming Again’ is perfectly wonderful in it’s stripped-back glory and ‘Fly On The Wall’, even better: Bluesy and deconstructed with a light reggae-like beat; whilst ‘Just Another Suicide’ is less jarring, a nice mid-tempo rocker augmented by those rich female backing vocals.
‘Empty City’ another song that sees Thunder reach way back into the catalogue, is another that really shines here: with a slow build, bluesy swagger and swirling Hammond it seems like it’s about to soar, but somehow manages to control itself and stay laid back when it would have been so easy to break the shackles. And that here like on ‘Future Train’ is the real joy of this album to me, the restraint show that constantly thwarts expectation and leaves you wanting more of those bite sized portions of rocking goodness, rather than diving head first into the banquet.
The rest of the album of course maintains those impeccably high standards: second single ‘Miracle Man’ is suitably bluesy and down and dirty, again with that angelic backing choir and low-key keys, it’s another high-point especially when it hits that stuttering acoustic solo. As is the lilting and emotional ‘Blown Away’ which treads a similar path and ‘Loser’ that simply simmers and sizzles laid back on those epic Hammond notes,before its elevated to another lane entirely the guitar. This is the track that will have all fans smiling from ear to ear and all those new to the band immediately wanting more. It’s stunning.
That leaves us with the first taste we had of this album back in October – the reworking of Thunder’s most recognisable song ‘She’s So Fine’ – here it’s a wonderful mash of sounds and textures with glittering Gospel-like backing, showcasing a band and the song at their very finest. It’s not quite the final word though, as we close out this eventful side-step of an album with the glorious version of ‘Low Life In High Places’ one of the two epic’s from Thunder’s second long-player ‘Laughing on Judgement Day’ which really put Bowes’ voice to the fore (the other track being ‘Empty City’ which we heard earlier). All I can say is that if you came here just expecting a nice little diversion before the next album,you’ll find far more than that here. Over the years Thunder have proven that they are one of the UK’s finest ever Rock bands time and time again, and ‘Please Remain Seated’ should silence any remaining doubters.
TRACKLISTING: 1. Bigger Than Both Of Us 04:10 | 2. Future Train 06:11 | 3. Girl’s Going Out Of Her Head 04:40 | 4. I’m Dreaming Again 04:20 | 5. Fly On The Wall 05:51 | 6. Just Another Suicide 03:59 | 7. Empty City 06:16 | 8. Miracle Man 05:30 | 9. Blown Away 04:48 | 10. Loser 06:19 | 11. She’s So Fine 05:25 | 12. Low Life In High Place
