Review by Brian McGowan

Defying several laws of logic and nature, Fiona Flanagan – for yes, it is she - lets her assets speak for themselves on the album’s artwork. And yes, it works. Your attention is well and truly grabbed. But for me the effect backfires. You immediately suspect it’s a diversion, a front. In fact, the cynic in you suspects that it masks some cheap, desperate attempt to cash in on past glories.

More in a moment.

For the unitiated, twenty five years ago, the ex Mrs Beau Hill (also romantically linked to Reb Beach), released four excellent albums, and appeared in several movies. In the eighties, feminism was challenging every aspect of male dominated society and arguably, Fiona was the movement’s melodic rock poster girl. But it’s been n-n-n-n nineteen years since the last album, ‘Squeeze’ and the world has changed.

And so, as you make your way into (Unbowed) ‘Unbroken’, you tread carefully, ready for the worst.

The realisation that this is a cracking little album is not an immediate one. And though tried and tested industry songwriters like Marc Tanner and Holly Knight, and new (ish) boys, Tommy Denander and James Christian have been brought on board, few songs exhibit any kind of instant accessibility. In fact, on first listen, songs like ‘Loved Along The Way’, ‘Wild One’ and ‘This Heart’ seem banal, uninspired.

Christian also produced. In his desire to replicate the energetic vitality of high profile eighties’ recordings, his sonic palette seems limited to major colours.

How wrong can you be?

Repeated listenings reveal a richly textured, carefully harmonised (Robin Beck helped with bgvs) body of music, filled with radiant bursts of melodic rock and pulse quickening hooks. The soaring, heartfelt plea at the heart of ‘Broken’ becomes the album’s anthem and ‘I’ve Released You’s declamatory opening lyrics, ‘Things Are Gonna Get Better’ become a promise kept, as we stride through track after track of high quality AOR, revelling in Fiona’s voice, still filled with emotive power and compelling vulnerability. But now with a few more miles on the clock and markedly more mature.

Elsewhere, the naggingly familiar ‘Badge Of Love’ and the Neanderthal riff at the heart of ‘Get Yer Kix’ are warm, uncluttered delights. The muscular ‘Salt On My Wings’, the irresistible punch of ‘I Love You But Shut Up’ and a classy reworking of Prophet’s ‘Everything You Are’ give Flanagan’s voice a real vocal workout that she clearly welcomes. Giving her more opportunity to prove that she is clearly alive and well (and living in New Jersey).

Recommended.

7/10