Airrace | Back to the Start

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by Justin Gaines
Guest Staff Writer

Even in an era that has seen a lot of unanticipated reunion of ‘80s rock acts, did anyone ever expect to see another Airrace album more than a quarter century after their debut? The band, which featured a young drummer named Jason Bonham, released exactly one album before fading away, but that album – 1985’s Shaft of Light – remains an absolute classic in AOR/melodic rock circles. Now the band is back with the appropriately-titled Back to the Start, which features an almost complete original lineup. Bonham is gone, but vocalist Keith Murrell and guitarist Laurie Mansworth – both critical elements of Airrace’s sound – as well as keyboardist Toby Sadler are back on board. They’re joined by drummer Simon Dawson (The Outfield), guitarist Dean Howard (T’Pau) and bassist David Boyce (Samson).

Obviously following an album as highly regarded as Shaft of Light is no easy feat, but the guys have been performing for a year or so and seem to have gotten back in the groove quite well. Back to the Start lacks that earnest, driven identity that only a young band in the ‘80s could have, but as soon as you hear opening rocker “Keep On Going” you definitely get a feeling of Déjà vu. This is the real Airrace all right, even if it’s an older, wiser Airrace. The band definitely knows their way around a set of upbeat melodic rock songs, and the album has a good-time, bar-rocking attitude that’s not too far removed from recent albums from Great White and Y&T. Listen to songs like the swinging “Better Believe It” and the rocking title track and you can almost see the smiles these guys must have had recording this album. The upbeat “Just One Kiss” and the keyboard-laden closing anthem “What More Do You Want From Me” have that old school AOR energy.

No, it’s not Shaft of Light Part 2, but Back to the Start is still a welcome return from one of melodic rock’s more overlooked bands, and a very solid, very enjoyable album at that. Here’s hoping it won’t take another 26 years to hear a follow-up!

Genre: Melodic Rock

Band:
Keith Murrell (v)
Laurie Mansworth (g)
Simon Dawson (d) (Outfield)
Dean Howard (g) (T’Pau)
David Boyce (b) (Samson)
Toby Sadler (k)

Track Listing:
1. Keep On Going
2. Two of a Kind
3. When Baby
4. Call Me Any Time
5. So Long
6. Back to the Start
7. Just One Kiss
8. Wrong Way Out
9. One Step Ahead
10. Enough of Your Loving
11. Better Believe It
12. What More Do You Want From Me

Label: Frontiers

Website: www.myspace.com/airraceband

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10