Europe U.S.


Watch Yourself
Losin Anna
Soldier Blue
Backtrack
Keep On Dancin
Pleading
Loving Man
Black to White
Field of Fire
Mistlur Records, MLR48 (Sweden) 1985, Moving Target (US) 1985


Richard Lloyd: Vocals, guitars, harmonica, bass
Keith Patchel: Guitars, background vocals
Anders Astrom: Bass
Thomas Johansson: Bass
Christian Falk: Bass
Peter Olsen: Drums
Ulf Sandquist: Drums
Per Eriksson: Drums
Stefan Glaumann: Percussion


In the six years since "Alchemy", Lloyd's approach has changed. The smart pop of his first album has been transformed into the heavier, more concise rush of "Field of Fire". Of the two I prefer "Field of Fire" because it sounds as if, vocally and musically, Lloyd has decided to go for it. As a collection, it coheres much more than "Alchemy" and I think that it brings the best out of Lloyd as a guitar player. It certainly sounds as if he's happier playing like this and, if it sounds as if it belongs more to the 70s than 80s, well, maybe that's where he felt most comfortable. It's a great rock album and it doesn't pretend to be what it isn't.

There's more emphasis on attack, but not necessarily at the expense of melody. If his singing has gained some assurance and commitment this time round then maybe that's at the expense of the plaintive quality we heard on the first album. But, because this all sounds so much more aggressive, then when the moments of vulnerability do show through they're so much more effective, as on "Black to White".

It kicks off powerfully with "Watch Yourself", which kind of sets the tone for the whole album. A thick, hard sound with some blistering guitar. It should be said that the sound on the album is much better than on "Alchemy" - crisper, cleaner and with a great sharp drum sound everywhere. What may seem odd is that Lloyd went to Sweden and made this very American music with these guys; who says Swedes can't rock? (Abba don't count). The musicians with whom Lloyd made this album do exactly the right things to support him and the songs.

"Losing Anna" has a swampy, bluesy feel helped by Lloyd's impassioned singing, harmonica playing and thick slide guitar. "Keep on Dancing" has a nice dirty feeling and a great guitar break. It sounds like The Ramones had a baby and they named it The Rolling Stones. In fact, I hear The Stones here and there all over this album in the guitar textures and figures. "Pleading" has a lovely wistful tone to it and "Loving Man" is a great example of how Lloyd can lift a song out of the merely-OK with his incisive and left-field guitar playing.

If there's one piece here that reminds you how much Lloyd has been overlooked as a guitarist, it's "Field of Fire". Although there's nothing startlingly original about either the subject or the structure, the dense guitar build-up is dramatic and dynamic and the extended guitar breaks are wonderful in their force and intensity. It's one of those tracks where you really have to just stop thinking about it and let it wash over you. I can't help feeling that if this had come out ten years earlier, and Lloyd had hair down to his waist, then it would have been played on the radio more often than "Free Bird" or "Stairway to Heaven" - and it's smarter than either.




(USA) DCD Reaction Recordings REACT-CD-005 2006


Remastered, deluxe double-CD re-packaging of 'Field Of Fire', available for the first time ever on compact disc. The first CD is the original album (recorded in Sweden in 1985) remastered. The second CD is an alternate, augmented "revisited" version of the album.


CD1 (Original):
Watch Yourself
Losin' Anna
Soldier Blue
Backtrack
Keep On Dancin'
Pleading
Lovin' Man
Black To White
Field Of Fire
CD2 (Revisited):
Soldier Blue
Pleading
Watch Yourself
Backtrack
The Only Feeling *
Losin' Anna
Tobacco and Corn *
Lovin' Man
Black To White
Field Of Fire
Keep On Dancin'
(*Previously Unreleased)