- Following on from the release of single Junior Kickstart last year and lead single The Power Is On this year, The Go! Team finally unleash their new album Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Now if you've had the pleasure of listening to these two releases, you'll know they show an unashamed disregard for following the rules. What results is an album that seamlessly combines strings, rolling pianos, seventies cool, funk and pounding beats producing music so fun and energetic, it will leave your ears begging for mercy. Similar to a lightning strike, their music is unpredictable, shocking and so full of energy it could power a small country for years.
The party gets underway with the lively 60s themed instrumental Panther Dash. A collection of high octane beats, trumpets, guitars and a harmonica come together to transform this into an absolute stormer of a track. Next in line is the old school hip-hop tinged Ladyflash. Crashing hip hop beats, swirling strings and sampled female vocals chanting "yeah yeah yeah..." get the party underway. Over the frenzy of beats a sultry soul singer is joined by old school hip hop chants with the music taking on a slight electro feel towards the end and leaving the listener breathless.
Feelgood By Numbers is a short but sweet joyful piano-laden track, giving the listener ample time to get their breath back. Crisp beats and another harmonica solo are the order of the day here, concocting visions of happy people on a hot summers day. Get It Together is next up making itself known with a frenzy of crashing beats, guitars and a recorder....yes, you read that right......a recorder! When I think of recorders, it just reminds me of being back in junior school having to sit through listening to someone play it. I'm not too keen on the instrument but somehow the band weaves their magic and makes it work here. The song comes to a finale with some nifty scratching.
Junior Kickstart takes on the feel of a seventies American superhero soundtrack. The brief intro consisting of lively electric guitar riffs and wailing horns soon gives way to a funky bass, drums and another welcome appearance by the harmonica. Bottle Rocket consists of old school hip hop vibes with it's funky bass, horns and breaks. The vocals of the female MC glides smoothly over the beats.
The album concludes with the rather mellow Everyone's A VIP To Someone. Definitely the more sentimental of all the tracks, it closes the album in style with it's lush strings, banjo, horns and kazoo solo. Only until the melody is firmly in your head do they decide to let the crashing drums loose.
The result is an exhilarating up-tempo album that defies everything written in the unwritten 'Book of Creating Songs', and at 35 minutes long it is just perfect. This rampant affair of an album is packed with so much energy that it should come with a warning sticker. The only way to describe Thunder, Lightning, Strike would be fun, colourful, loud and damn funky. This album will bring a smile to anyone's face. So what you waiting for....this is the only Thunder, Lightning, Strike anyone should want to get struck by!
1. Panther Dash
2. Ladyflash
3. Feel Good By Numbers
4. The Power Is On
5. Get It Together
6. Junior Kickstart
7. Air Raid GTR
8. Bottle Rocket
9. Friendship Update
10. Huddle Formation
11. Everyone's A VIP To Someone