MYRACLE BRAH Treblemaker (Rainbow Quartz)

Power of Pop regulars will no doubt be aware of how highly I esteem Andy Bopp’s Myracle Brah. Fact is, I believe that the Brah’s maiden Life on Planet Eartsnop remains one of the truly seminal power pop moments of the late 90s. If you don’t own it, head on down to Not Lame RIGHT NOW. I can wait…

Four albums on, Bopp continues to mine the rich vein of inspiration that is early 70s classic rock and to great effect. With the melancholic melodism of Badfinger, cosmic boogie-ism of T. Rex, fragile romanticism of Big Star and wide-eyed optimism of The Raspberries, Bopp has transcended mere simulation to construct novel templates that remain familiar yet evoke a sense of distinction. I mean, anyone with a smidgeon of rock music awareness will grasp where Bopp is coming from but one cannot deny that the material is very much imbued with Bopp’s own personal idiosyncrasies as well.

Thus on Treblemaker, Bopp’s aim is still true and whilst in a very general sense, the songs here may not be able to match the sheer intensity of Planet Eartsnop, it is heartening to note that it is a far more mature and assured effort and reflects an artist in complete control of the recording environment.     

Aided and abetted by Splitsville’s Paul Krysiak (bass) and Joe Parsons (drums), the sound on Treblemaker is truly “in-your-face” right from the clearly Los Bros Davies-besotted “This Is Where We Belong” which will gate-crash any boring nu skool rock party anytime. From then on it’s no looking back – the jangly “Climbing On A Star,” the beaty “Be Your Lover,” the maniacally jaunty “Think About You” and the irresistibly punchy “Modern World” maintaining Bopp’s penchant for Lennonesque melodic flair circa 1965. And that’s high praise, in my book.

Take it from someone who knows, Treblemaker is 32-odd minutes of sheer pop power, the way it’s always meant to be. A+ www.rainbowquartz.com