Artist: Jaded Sun
   Title: Gypsy Trip
   Label: SiAn Records

Ireland has always been a hot bed of Classic Rock since its incarnation in the 70’s with numerous bands breaking into the big time with a self styled rock that has always been popular.  More recently the likes of Glyder and The Answer have been stepping out of the darkness of the underground scene and making the step up to stardom.  Hot on their heels are Jaded Sun.

'Gypsy Trip' is the debut release from a band who have only been around since 2003, but have already impressed the A & R guys at SiAn Records.  So much in fact that they sent the band to LA to record the album under the guidance of Richie Mouser and Jimmy Coup, who between them have worked with Dream Theater,  Andrew WK and Weezer.

This album is pure gold.  Classic Blues filled Hard Rock that gets underway with ‘Breaking Through’, a great opener filled with punchy guitar riffs from Sean Gosker and Eorann Stafford.  The slide guitar bridge is just superb.  That hard rocking back beat is provided by Damien Kelly on bass and Gavan Murray on drums, although the star of the show for me are the classic vocals of John Maher, who really knows how to bring the bands sound alive.

The good times just keep on comin’ with the excellent ‘Crazyman’, which gets underway with Stafford on Harmonica before Maher lets loose with those tremendous vocals.  Again the slide guitar and harmonica mix are just a sublime touch to this bluesy rocker.

The next two songs are definitely old school rockers.  'Fever’ has that definite Led Zep feel to it, whereas ‘Hey You’ has that AC/DC feel to it, with female backing vocals adding a nice touch and feel to the song.  It's plain to hear that the band are obviously influenced by the classic bands of the 70’s and 80’s and in a world where retro is the new black, this isn’t a bad thing.

There's a change in direction with the moving ballad ‘Crave’.  This one is pure bliss as Maher just caresses the ears with his humble tones.  This song will cetainly melt the hardest of hearts.  Then it's back to the hard rocking with ‘Can't Stop’, which is good time rock n' roll at its finest.

The pace is once again brought down for the slow burning melodies of ‘Sweetness’ and ‘He Knows Home’, before picking up once more for the excellent ‘Positive’ and the thumping rocker and my favourite track ‘Higher’.  The album started on a high and carried on throughout, so why not finish how you started in my opinion and the band do just that closing the album with ‘She’s Got Class’.

This album is a great Hard Rock album that will surely see the band on their way to greater things, so let's hope a UK tour or a high profile support slot come the bands way in 2008 because these guys deserve a big break.

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