The Farm was originally formed in 1984 and most of us know them from their hits such as the anthemic `All Together Now`, baggy `Groovy Train` and thoughtful ` Love See No Colour`. The band`s original ‘heyday’ line-up of Peter Hooton (vocals), Steve Grimes (guitar/keys), Keith Mullin (guitar) Carl Hunter (bass) and Roy Boulter(drums) have joined forces to record and release their first new album in thirty years this month with `Let The Music Take Control`.
`Forever & Ever` guides us in and it`s an upbeat slice of Summer sunshine and made for blasting out at full volume on a hot day with the windows open as you cruise along. Title track `Let The Music Take Control` has a much more Daft Punk bass driven disco vibe and would make the most lethargic of us get up and dance or at the very least tap our foot.
`Feel the Love` has a kind of shimmer about it and talks about letting your troubles go and grasping opportunities. There`s some really nice brass hues shared throughout. There`s a thumping pounding bass vibe to `Waiting For The Sun` another song of positivity.
`Breathe` has an electronic under beat and is an introspective offering about unfulfilled opportunities. For me there was a Happy Mondays meets Frankie Goes to Hollywood texture on the disco-esque `That Feeling`
`World Without You` is a pulsating love song, a reaffirmation of devotion to that certain somebody and how life wouldn`t be worth living without them. We have an electronic synth-pop submission with `Moment In Time` a kind of carpe diem or making the best of the occasion presented.
`Can’t Stop (Loving You)` is an expansive energetic thumper with some contemplative lyrical content which briefly stops two thirds of the way through for a breather before returning to its previous dynamic beat. The final cut `Eternity` does create a feeling of infinity or time without end and is a fairly tender reflective dreamlike composition to close out on.
I really enjoyed `Let The Music Take Control` and running at around the thirty five minute mark, why not set aside and hour and give it a couple of blasts and as the band say let the music take control.
The Farm are for me a festival band and this album would go down a storm at an open air gathering. As the band have previously encouraged us with `Let The Music Take Control`, let’s all together now get on that Groovy train.
Welcome back The Farm, we`ve missed ya.
Rating 8.5/10
