The Union's third album is a release to rival anything Luke Morley has produced before.
Think Luke Morley and you think Thunder. Right? Well maybe not for much longer, with the third album from The Union being a release to rival anything the guitarist has produced before. In fact, I'd go as far as to suggest that if you have a hankering for blues infused rock that veers from heavy stomps to introspective acoustic, then 'The World Is Yours' is an album that you simply must have. Morley as ever leads from the front, but his charge is matched by Union-mates Pete Shoulder (vocals/guitar), Chris Childs (bass) and Dave McCluskey (drums), both in terms of virtuosity and enthusiasm. We all know that the Thunder combination of Morley's crafty six-string and Danny Bowes power-vocals is the stuff of legend, however the fret burner's pairing with Shoulder is proving equally irresistible, with the duo not only bouncing guitar motifs off each other, but along with Childs, creating thoroughly memorable vocal harmonies. It is a match made in heaven and one not wasted by an album that is assured, mature, beautiful, introspective and bubbling with energy.
Let's get one thing straight, there isn't one song on 'The World Is Yours' that isn't worth babbling on about (a real rarity these days), with the fifteen songs running the gamut of blues infused attacks and emotions. 'You're My Jesus', all gritty riffs, thunderous (no pun intended...) drums and sublime female backing vocals grooving with insistent intent, wins you over in a matter of seconds. Shoulder is imperious, using his full range of vocal powers without ever sounding like he's thinking, "look how smart I am", 'What Doesn't Kill You' uses varying tempos to rock and lull you as McCluskey takes his toms to task, while 'Lost To The Wind' combines mandolin and acoustic guitars with amazing duet vocals, resulting in a song that breaks your heart while you smile from ear to ear. Add to that the loosely 'Albatross', Fleetwood Mac reminiscent 'Fading Out Of Love' (just listen to that bottle-neck playing!), the booty shakin' rumble of 'The Perfect Crime' and ukulele led 'Marie Celeste' and 'The World Is Yours' is not only a stunningly good album, but one which manages to be fit for every occasion – and I haven't even mentioned the romping 'Wreck My Scene' yet!
'The World Is Yours'? With any justice the world should be The Union's.
Steven Reid
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