Can We Return To The Late 60s/Early 70s

Last week I went along to The Brunswick pub in Holland Road [Hove, actually] to witness the launch of the ‘Can we Return to the Heart’ album by The Jules Franks Band. I have previously reviewed the album and the band’s debut at the Unitarian Church, New Road, Brighton. I have to say that The Brunswick proved to be a much more suitable venue for the noise the band make! The evening was very cleverly organised with the early part showing video film of Jules’s travels in India accompanied with tracks from his earlier musical works. These were very impressively put together indeed. Jules then performed solo exhibiting his prowess with a number of his percussion instruments including the amazing Swiss-made ‘Hang’ – a gong-like device comprised of a couple of West Indian steeldrums welded together in a flying saucer or barbecue shape! The sound produced was absolutely amazing and Jules’ mastery of the instrument was sublime. The 7-piece band augmented by a clarinettist then presented a pretty true track-by-track rendition of the album only briefly interrupted by an interlude for Jules to rest his voice and the group to perform their very special version of The Beatles’ ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’ The sizeable audience clearly appreciated the music as much as I did, so I’d say the evening was a veritable success – I hope Jules manages to sell a good few albums as a result.