Roachford - Feel (1997)

Much was expected of Roachford when they first hit the music scene in the late 1980s, principally because they were one of the first British black rock groups to get mainstream media coverage. Brimming with radical rock tunes, Roachford had the potential to take on the world's rock elite. Almost 10 years after their debut, their fourth album, Feel, sees them exploring more mellow, soul-inspired territory. Acoustic guitars replace the electric variety and the vocals are toned down on the album's 11 tracks. Thankfully, the group's ability to write catchy, addictive melodies remains, and their lyrics are still innocuously intellectual. As their simple one-word song titles suggest ("Flow", "Down"), their music is free from any unnecessary packaging. The tracks "Time" and "Someday" are truly heavenly. --John Galilee