Kimberley Rew – Tunnel Into Summer
This winning album is Kimberley Rew’s first since his EP The Bible Of Bop in 1982. That one appeared between his tenures with the Soft Boys and Katrina & the Waves. Besides being the guitarist for the latter combo, he was also their main songwriter.
This time out he’s singing all of his own songs himself, accompanied by a fine ensemble of like-minded players, including old musical cohorts Robyn Hitchcock (Rew appeared on Hitchcock’s 1999 release Jewels For Sophia and also joined him on tour) and Andy Metcalfe, Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze, Julian Dawson, and Dave Mattacks. The thirteen songs are smart and punchy pop.
Starting with the opening “Simple Pleasures”, one can’t help but be won over by the catchy melodies, the muscular guitar hooks, and the propulsively rocking rhythms. It’s also a well-structured set, varying tempos and instrumentation with the ear of someone who appreciates the bigger picture of what makes a good album, rather than just good songs.
Rew is quite capable of presenting himself in more pared-down settings, as he does with “Rosemary Jane” and the acoustic “Beautiful Ruth”. An impressive guitarist as well, Rew sets vocals aside for the album-closing “Alice Klaar”, which draws from surf music but uses a broader range of melodic colors.