Mike + The Mechanics

Let Me Fly BMG

You can take the man out of Genesis… It’s been 32 years since Mike Rutherford began working on his solo project.“In 1985, we were having the best time in Genesis,” he recalls.“But after 28 years, myself, Phil and Tony wanted variety, so we ran our band and our solo careers side by side happily for many years. To be honest, it saved Genesis…” Now the band returns with Let Me Fly, their first record since 2011’s The Road and maintaining the line-up of Rutherford, Luke Juby (keyboards), Gary Wallis (drums), Anthony Drennan (guitar) and vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar. It’s an up-tempo affair with lyrics that aim straight at the heart, dealing with subjects including infidelity and soul-searching self-discovery. There are traces of Collins-era Genesis on tracks such as Are You Ready, but the Mechanics have a sound and style that remains their own. [DM] Standout track: Are You Ready For fans of: Genesis, Paul Young