Album Review: Deacon Blue - A New House (Rhino)

Rather than jump on an 1980's revival tour, Scottish band Deacon Blue have released their 7th album; A New Home and our performing their own headline tour in December

It is a very upbeat album and the band appears to be on a roll. The album opens with Bethlehem Begins, with its rolling drums and piano driven hook it starts the album off on a high. The track is typical of the album - infectious melodies with a good hook whether it be piano or guitar under each song.

For John Muir (dedicated to Scots born naturalist and conservationist) offers a lyric all about the splendour of the outdoors.

The title track, a New House could be the cousin to Peter Gabriel's Salisbury Hill, the track is about lead singer Ricky Ross watching a new house being built - perhaps he was also referring to the Scottish referendum!

I Wish I Was A Girl Like You is another of the highlights on the album with its carefree and uplifting melody.

The track March has a guitar hook that borrows a lot from The Police track, Spirits in the Material World.

Rather than looking back at their past and revisiting former glories this is the sound of a band that seems to have found their feet again.

Deacon Blue appears at Harrogate Conference Centre on Friday 12th December 2014.

I give the album 4 out of 5.