Andy McCarroll - Through Different Eyes Now (1975)

 

Most modern collectors will recognize Andy from his aggressive new wave ‘80s band Moral Support. Their sole album Zionic Bonds (as well as classics by Ishmael United, Rev Counta, and Bill Mason Band) ushered in a British Christian punk era. Well, in time, after hearing of rumored pre-Moral Support material, I was pleased to finally confirm the existence of Andy’s two solo lps. Now we couldn’t expect Andy to be doing punk rock back in 1975, but what he does deliver on the custom lp Through Different Eyes Now is far from laid back. Much of the album has an acoustic folkrock vibe, a few times even stepping into aggressive electric rock-n-roll with a full band sound and Andy’s harmonica wailing in the foreground. And talk about exuberance! This guy has a childlike excitement about Christ that is unquenchable. This lp may well win the most-references-to-Jesus award (the album opens with the rocker ‘Thank You Jesus’, then on to ‘Jesus Jesus’). Balanced with a strong compassion for the lost, as on the hard-hitting ‘Nightmare’, a vision of souls “damned to hell forever”. Andy’s humor peeks in occasionally as on the ‘Back On The Road Again’ (“I was a mule, I was such a fool”). Yeah, there are a few synth-backed acoustic ballads, but nothing I’d call sappy. Andy on acoustic guitar, harmonica and kazoo, assisted by John Daniels (piano, organ, synthesizer, bass, acoustic and electric guitars) and Gordon Miller (drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars). Comes in a textured basket-weave cover. (Ken Scott - Archivist)

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