Search - Makin' Time :: Rhythm!

The Biggest Beat

Paul Ess. | Holywell, N.Wales,UK. | 06/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love music with a big sound; I like to hear crystal clear vocals, steely refreshing guitars, loud resonant keyboard playing, and madman Moon drumming. Not much to ask is it?



Thing is, it's usually a struggle. You can usually find a music with one or maybe two of the above, but all four? Enter Makin' Time.



Ignorantly and unfairly consigned to the comatose 'mod' cult, (along with another of my faves Secret Affair) and despite being completely brilliant, Makin' Time released two poorly-received albums, a handful of singles, and disappeared.



That their ultimate failure sales-wise might have something to do with them being signed to the chronic and immobile Stiff Records is a hurtful truth not lost on me. Possibly the label with the worst roster of groups EVER, Makin' Time were always going to be up against it in that plant-pot company.

But in talent terms, they were red-hot. When firing on all cylinders as on their debut album 'Rhythm and Soul' (pretty much all of which is included on this compilation) they could whip it up with the best of 'em.

Words like 'raging', 'soaring' and 'breathless' spring to mind. A joyful singing- ringing tree of youthful roar and commitment.

That fantastic Auger-esque keyboard sound raises already superb numbers like 'That's Where the Rhythm Takes You' and 'Did I tell You' to hymnal, psychedelic heights, and the frantic, flashing, slashing guitar, moves songs like 'the Girl that Touched My Soul' and 'Stop This Cryin' Inside' well away from the stifling boundaries of 'mod' and into wide, spacious, unclogged areas of soul and free-base prestdigitation.



'Mod' is a misleading distraction. Makin' Time are more Love and Traffic than zoot-suits and targets. They WERE very young when they recorded these songs, and that's probably why they race by without a care in the world, but be warned; should you play `Rhythm' in your car, you'll be over the speed limit in seconds, drumming the steering wheel, using the dash as a Farfisa and the clutch as a bass pedal as you hurtle along, wondering which fabulous harmony you're gonna join in with.



It's a bit like Katrina and the Waves, 'Walking on Sunshine', but better played, better sung and with better lyrics. You can only fantasize as to how good a singer Fay Hallom is. (and she's responsible for the ENORMOUS organ sound)

Proper dusky and husky, Fay's not afraid to let rip and hang the consequences. This is no mumbling diva - this is a truly great white-soul voice, bursting with energy and transfixing clarity.

She's so enthusiastic - she's still at it, enthralling modern (sorry) audiences with her chiming solo r'n'b vision.

Don't know if she's still got the bob-cut though.



I was trying to think what type of music fan 'Rhythm' might appeal to but the truth is, I can't think of a type that it wouldn't. It's all here, a glorious, hotter-than-hell, many facetted, BIG music.

Move to this rhythm..."