Nightfly
Resonate is the thirteenth solo album from former Trapeze, Deep Puple, Black Country Communion vocalist/bass player Glenn Hughes. Most of his best work comes from his more collaborative efforts from the afore-mentioned bands and not forgetting the legendary Hughes/Thrall album, melodic hard rock at its best. His solo career contains some fine albums as well as some patchy ones but all contain at least some good stuff. They generally contain hard rock, funk and soul music to to a greater or lesser degree. Resonate is his first solo album since 2008’s First Underground Nuclear Kitchen.
Whilst Resonate has a funky vibe and Hughes’s soulful vocal delivery, which is as good as ever, it ups the hard rock quotient and is one of his heavier solo works reminding me of 1996’s Addiction. Most of the songs have a slowish pace but plenty of groove and driving riffs and the overall consistency makes it one of his best. The injection of Hammond organ on songs like Steady, which also ups the tempo after the first four tracks, is a welcome addition. Songs like Heavy, Flow, God Of Money, How Long and My Town pack plenty of punch with strong melodies and hooks all with that stunning trademark soulful Hughes vocal delivery. He’s one of the few singers from the seventies era who’s managed to keep his voice as good as it was back then. Things don’t quieten down until When I Fall arrives seven songs in and would fit on his more soul orientated albums. Landmines would suit one of his more Funky ones but generally this album rock!
Overall then Resonate is as good as any of Hughes’s other solo albums and better than most, if not even his best yet. Any fan of the man should be delighted with this.