In recent years Dallas Crane has been relegated to an oddly defined half-way house between self-imposed retirement and irregular activity. For a band destined to achieve great things, Dallas Crane’s current situation is something of an unfortunate oddity. With his fellow band members rediscovering life outside the major label system and pursuing various other musical activities, guitarist Pete Satchell has chosen to follow suit, embarking on his own solo project, Pete Sounds.
Joined by a supporting cast that includes Dallas Crane bass player Pat Bourke, Pete Sounds is an eclectic journey through the musical world of Pete Satchell. On Alien Welcome Home, Satchell skirts around the edge of new wave electronic pop; later on, This Is Hell blends post-punk beats with Bowie spice before exploding in a frenzy of pub rock attitude. Dead Fish is a waltzing blues track with a hint of Ray Davies thrown in for good measure. She’s An Angel is solid pop song with a dash of Buffalo Springfield, while Unscramble the Shambles is an introspective country-ish sojourn through the unavoidably difficult moments in life.
Worried Eyes suggest The Beatles under the weight of drugs and egos; Lead Shoulders is dirty rock track with the harsh edges sanded down into a tight pop formula. Holes throws back to the bright and breezy pop idealism of early 70s California, See You For You flies the pop flag for self-determination with a solid organ line for good measure, and Last Minute Love Song lurches back into Kinks English village territory.
Pete Sounds is a good album, replete with whimsy, eccentricity and a liberal dose of unpredictability. Who knows when Dallas Crane will reconvene; in the meantime, wander through Pete Satchell’s sounds. There’s a little bit for everyone.
