GINGER WILDHEART G*A*S*S* Mark II

ROUND

Another generous helping from the Geordie tune machine

Between 2014 and 2015, Ginger Wildheart recorded and released 36 brand new songs exclusively for his own online fan club. This is a second compilation of highlights from that creative splurge – following 2015’s Year Of The Fanclub

– and it’s every bit as wildly entertaining as the first. G*A*S*S* Mark II once again hammers home the brilliance of Ginger’s songwriting; there are moments of knackerjiggling punk’n’roll abandon (Friends Of Bill), sublime psych-pop balladry (King Rat) and folksy power-pop (Caer Urfga), all sewn together with the Brit rock veteran’s unwavering knack for jubilant melodies and harmonies. As ever, the best moments are the curveballs; Alvarado On

The 2 is a woozy, whispered hymn of hope with a joyously bombastic finale, while the nine-minute

Don’t Lose Your Tail, Girl is a bug-eyed blur of mad ideas, prog grandeur and wilful extremity.

FOR FANS OF: The Damned, Cheap Trick, Cardiacs

DOM LAWSON