Glenn Hughes

Heavy (Single)

(Frontiers SRL)

There is no question that the man known as Glenn Hughes is a worldwide rock music legend who has entertained millions with his various musical projects and bands e.g. Deep Purple, Hughes and Thrall, Trapeze, Black Country Communion (BCC) and California Breed as well as his extensive solo material.

Well never to be one to sit on his laurels, Hughes has returned with his twelfth solo album ‘Resonate’ which is released by Frontiers SRL on Friday 4th November 2016. The album is co-produced by guitarist Soren Andersen with the remaining band personnel consisting of Pontus Engborg on drums and Lachy Doley on keyboards.

The opening track of the album entitled ‘Heavy’ was chosen as the radio single and features a musical appearance by Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith who also contributed to the album’s closing track. The intro doesn’t mess about with the classic heavy Hughes bass laying down the law whilst Smith’s drum sound blends well with Doley’s lush keyboards.

At this juncture it is important to note that it would appear that all egos were left outside the studio door as this funky quartet give a hundred per cent in terms of energy and Andersen’s guitar was fluid but not overplayed.

Glenn’s vocals are crisp and clear and allow the catchy one-word chorus to ring out like a bell with such ease and vocal power. For me, his voice has always been the perfect blend of a smooth sound and really intense delivery and it is an incredibly special moment.

I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say 2016 hasn’t been an easy year at all with the amount of talented individuals and musicians that have passed such as Prince and Hughes’s friend David Bowie which makes it even more important to listen to new music and see as many artists as we can so that we can embrace their new sound.

Hughes recently commented that ‘Resonate’ was his heaviest album yet and I would certainly not dispute that at all as opener ‘Heavy’ hits your ears like a rock/soul freight train and the journey just continues from there. Of course you will have a small faction of Glenn Hughes fans who may not enjoy this heavier sound and would prefer another version of ‘Mistreated’ for example (which is an epic song might I add) but that wouldn’t be fun at all.

Legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis once said “Don’t play what you know, play what you don’t know” as he didn’t want to make the same record over again opting for a fresh new sound each time. That is exactly the approach that Glenn Hughes and his bandmates have taken and boy is it refreshing.

Glenn Sargeant