Music > Album Reviews

Sunscreem - Out of the Woods

20/11/18

Blimey it’s the return of Sunscreem! Where have they been during the past 20 years since they first burst onto the music scene in the 1990’s? Well as it turns out they haven’t really ever been away! The new album, Out Of The Woods has as it would appear at least in part been sitting around on the shelves gathering dust just waiting to get released since the late nineties. So some twenty one years on the full length album will at last be released at the end of November.

Hailing from Chelmsford, Essex alongside their mates The Prodigy, they were very much leaders and innovators of the then club and rave scene. During their career they have had twelve top forty hits in the UK and one top forty hit Stateside, along with four number ones in the USA alongside another four top forty hits in said chart. They have also toured with the likes of New Order and Jesus Jones during the nineties and played in front of an American president.

Catch is a great song that instantly grabs your attention, it has previously hit the top of the dance charts in the UK and was also a number two hit in the USA before their ex-record company went pop.

Change, Where Are The Angels, Cover Me and Goodtimes each carry the classic floor filling trademarks of Sunscreem’s sound.

Also featured are two cover versions, the Psychedelic Furs track Heaven and also The Passions, I’m In Love With A German Film Star and it’s the latter than shines brightest, it really does work.

The most polished song on the album for me is All Fall Down a real dramatic affair that’s played out over three minutes and thirty seven seconds to a backdrop of Lucia Holm’s sumptuous vocals and Paul Carnell’s dramatic piano playing.

It very much sounds like Sunscreem are back and Out Of The Woods is a very fitting title and also a very welcome return, their regular energy is as evident as ever and if you like your dance music, you will not be disappointed.

Sunscreem as a band have a great pedigree and a real never say die attitude, they have certainly had some knocks during the past twenty or so years but they really do sound like a band that still has plenty to offer the British and quite probably US dance scene.

It’s great to have them back.