Sabrejet - Same Old Brand New
Delicious Records DEL 101

Every year at least one album comes along that you just have to play time after time. That you just have to own. Last year it was Ian McLagan's Best Of British. This year it's Darrell Bath's new Sabrejet project. From the first chords of the title track all the way to the 8 minute plus of the Can't You Hear Me Knocking inspired All Your Lovin' this comes pretty close to perfection. Through new classics like Pawn Shop or Rats, it's the kind of album the Faces would be making if they were still around. It's that good!

Those of us who love the Faces know a thing or two. Darrell Bath, who is Sabrejet, knows a thing or more. The staggered stagger of Just Be True shows this off oh so well. As does just about every track on this disc. Like parts of Freddy Lynxx's Bloodied Up album it reflects something of the past merged with something of the future. The way things were and the way things should be…

Darrell says that the whole album was recorded in five days. It really couldn't sound any better even if five months had been spent. The guitars sound like guitars. The Salvation Army scored trombone sounds like a trombone. This is the kind of album that no-talents like Paul Weller should be making instead of the much over-praised drivel they get away with. If they were then the tributes would be worthwhile.

From Dogs D'Amour to The Crybabys via the Boys, Ian Hunter and Diamond Dogs-Darrell has played with most of the people he'd like to. Here he re-tracks down classics of his own like the glorious Never Trust A Blonde which first saw the light on Mr. 'Untah's Dirty Laundry album. Basically what Bath is doing is carrying on the English rock'n roll tradition to the hilt. In a perfect world this would have been recorded at The Wick on Richmond Hill, Surrey. In this imperfect world it was laid down at Freda Park West in Wiltshire. Still one of the home counties…

Darrell has one of those typical guitarist's voices-in other words to those of those who love perfection in the vocal department he won't cut it-but to those of us who go for soul and a cool pair of trousers, he's perfect!

If you don't own this album then you really should. If you don't like it you're no friend of mine. It should sell a million… In a perfect world it would!

Nikki Sudden-England-September 1 2000.

Album available from Delicious Records, 73 Summerstown, London SW17 O8Q, England.

First published in Superstar-2001.