LONG ROAD HOME – Are We Invisible? (2023)
LONG ROAD HOME are a 5 piece classic rock band from London, UK, with shades of hard rock and blues, influenced by bands and artists such as Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Gary Moore, Robin Trower and Joe Bonamassa.
All members have many years touring and recording experience going back to the ’70s, and their debut album ”Are We Invisible?” includes 11 original songs written by guitarist Steve Summers and vocalist Mike Sebbage, with Vic Martin (ex Gary Moore band) contributing songwriting on 4 of the tracks.
With its driving rhythms, great vocals, catchy songs, penetrating guitar solos and divinely soulful keyboards, “Are We Invisible?” is a highly enjoyable debut CD, avoiding common places and clichés.
Sebbage’s voice perfectly suits the classy songwriting, like in ‘In For The Kill’ which opens like a classic Kansas or Boston song, but settles on a slow build with a layered sound. He is at his best on the buzz tone-led and powerful hook of title track ‘Long Road Home’ and the Robin Trower influenced ‘I Lose Again’, which cleverly contrasts his vocal clarity with a heavy riff driven approach.
Then we find a relaxed groove on ‘Eye On You’, it gives the album too much to do in terms of dynamics. But most of the 11 well honed songs rock hard, and occasionally cut loose on the back of Steve Summers fiery guitar work.
The aptly titled ‘What They Call The Blues’ which is another smouldering Trower influenced piece. The palpable tension is partially resolved by Summer’s well crafted wah-wah solo, but a sudden fade robs the track of its denouement.
Contemporary technology aside, ‘Are We Invisible?’ is an album which could have been made anytime in the 70s. It’s not quite classic rock, but does lean on familiar influences such as Robin Trower, Procol Harum, Deep Purple and even ZZ Top.
The album has a meticulous attention to detail, from Summers contrasting tones to Salisbury’s keyboard versatility, all anchored by Derek White’s mellifluous bass lines (check out the walking bass on ‘Eye On You’).
Ian Salisbury’s keyboard abilities pushes the band into Deep Purple territory on ‘Where I Wanna Be’, and provides a funky feel during the gnawing riff-driven ‘I Don’t Belong Here’, where delivers a short and telling solo. Then again, he’s an integral part of the band sumptuous layered sound, especially on ‘Waiting For The Kill’ on which his subtle synth wash and threaded organ line helps push the song into the hook.
Better still, he’s the perfect foil for guitarist Summers on the closing ‘Perfect Afternoon’. A combination of the acoustic into slide opening, a Southern rock unison guitar line and a thumping organ and guitar driven groove is topped by sing-along chanted hook which rounds of a promising debut album with a welcome blast of traditional, timeless classic rock.
Highly Recommended
01 – Long road home
02 – Are we invisible?
03 – I lose again
04 – Where I wanna be
05 – What they call the blues
06 – Eye on you
07 – Waiting for the kill
08 – I don’t belong here
09 – Whispering rain
10 – Gone gone gone
11 – Perfect afternoon
Guitar – Steve Summers
Vocals – Mike Sebbage
Bass – Derek White
Drums – Lee Morrell
Keyboards – Ian Salisbury
BUY
longroadhome.co.uk/the-album/
