Originally formed in the alluring and charismatic locale of Hartlepool, County Durham as one of the most critically acclaimed hidden gems of the 80’s New Wave of British Prog-Metal bands as they captured the hearts of major labels including NEAT Records with their debut single ‘Backs To The Grind’. MCA Records signed the band, commissioning their second studio album which was recorded but never completed. If you thought that The Avalanches’ gap of 16 years between their beautiful debut album ‘Since I Left You’ and the underrated modern sample-based stunner ‘Wildflower’ was excruciatingly long, White Sprit’s new LP follows on some 42 years since all-star act’s self-titled first album was released in 1980. Long confined to the cutting room floor, White Spirit’s fabled second album – ‘Right Or Wrong’ – has finally marked the end of a mythical music quest to seek the long-assumed cancelled album that had remained lost and hidden for decades.
To be clear, the recent release of ‘Right Or Wrong’ is not only a 10-track album that was recorded in the 80’s, but the previously Brian Howe-fronted band have made every effort to remix, re-record and re-imagine the much-delayed album for a modern 21st century audience, but it is fascinating to think how it may have performed if released as originally planned in 1982. This was the time before Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ had become a very synth-heavy component of the pop-oriented Metal scene, a scene that could have taken shape very differently if audiences heard ‘Right Or Wrong’ and it had become a commercial hit when it was first written under the group’s shared RCA label.
Boasting an all-star cast in the early 80’s including Ted Nugent’s Brian Howe, Tank’s Mick Tucker, Airrace’s Toby Sadler and many more among their line-up, White Spirit were forced to break up at the cusp of their industry attention when Howe suffered from a tragic heart attack. Tapes marked with ‘Chiswick Studios – White Spirit’ were unearthed when former band members reunited in France and the tapes were restored as best as they could with industry veterans like Journey’s Jeff Scott Soto, Whitesnake’s Neil Murray and Lionheart’s Lee Small joining in the re-recording process to finally fill the gaps when needed and to finish their final album with their fallen friend.
As you may expect, the new iteration of White Spirit keep their production methods feeling old-school in the lead single of ‘Runaway’ where ultra melodic Synth riffs give the track its signature upbeat, electronic character that makes no apologies for its at-times cheesy, yet synth-laden classic rock sound. It may have fitted right in with family friendly 80’s radio pop hits created by the likes of Kim Wilde, Kirsty McColl and Europe at the time where the once-scrapped album was originally set to be released in 1982. The chorus is sprawling and wide-eyed, while the optimistic songwriting goes for a fist-pumping and anthemic feel as the band pay tribute to Brian Howe, who lives on in the powerful record. It feels a little predictable and a bit dated, as expected, but it feels quite sweet and charming overall in how it feels relatively unchanged and it calls back to a certain era of rock music that we only occasionally hear in today’s time. The sound quality is very clear and robust for a recording so old, and the track features a nostalgic mid-guitar solo that will have lasted for 12 minutes if given a special Vinyl release back in the day. While it is nothing that you haven’t heard before, it seems like an accurate throwback to an important era of rock music.
Although it certainly doesn’t really represent what indie rock music has become in the modern age, ‘Runaway’ is a charming single that uses the full capabilities of its Bruce Springsteen-like narration-led songwriting to tell a relatable story and it feels gloriously old in how it handles its business. A sweet experience that earns its remastered status and largely justifies its existence.
Words by Jacob Braybrooke
Praise for White Spirit
“A wonderfully unexpected pleasure” – James Gaden
“A triumph and another reminder (should you need it) of just how good Brian Howe was” – Mik Gaffney
“An incredibly fresh body of work with power, finesse, great songs and amazing vocals” – Bravewords
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