When I first reviewed this album when it originally came out in 2000, I said “Take the Miller boys out of The Whisky Priests, take Joseph Porter out of Blyth Power and the result is an album that everyone should have. Review over.” So it is fair to say that I have always rated this album, and having been playing it quite a bit recently having been in touch with Gary Miller for the first time in too long it has reminded me just how good this was. Back in the Nineties both bands were well-known on the UK roots circuit and were each hugely influential in their own ways, and needless to say they often played together (and I was lucky enough to see such a pairing – what an incredible gig that was).
But both bands were just that, full bands, so Joseph, Gary and Glenn decided to do something that for them was a little different. Glenn is on accordion as always, but here Joseph provides guitar/ vocals and Gary mandolin/guitar vocals. Given that Joseph provides drums with his own band this was something of a departure for him, and having no drums on the album gives this quite a different feel. There is a freshness and sense of drive that is the same today as it was when it first came out. Fred Purser did a great job on production and these guys have all worked together to produce something that is roots and folk and protest singer-songwriter all rolled up together
Joseph and Gary sing lead on their own songs, and while it seems unfair to pick one song above the others, “Kater Murr” is my fave with some superb lyrics as well as a great melody. Back then both bands had their own label and was released on both! If you missed out on this the first time around then there really is no excuse for not getting this now. If you go to Bandcamp then you can get this both physically or digitally, http://garymiller.bandcamp.com/album/going-down-with-alice. The Whisky Priests will soon be back in action again, so for more details visit http://www.garymillersongs.com/ while Blyth Power never really went away, http://www.blythpower.co.uk/. This is a great album, and deserves investigation by all those who enjoy good music.
