Colin Tench Project: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Screwed (2012)

Multinational act COLIN TENCH PROJECT is a new player on the field, but with an interesting back history to it. Main man Colin Tench appeared more or less out of nowhere (also known as Sweden) a couple of years ago, promoting an album by a UK band he had been a member of some 20 odd years ago whose sole album had been refused by major and indie labels alike on a few previous occasions. So he decided to do it all himself, and it turned out that this CD found favour among quite a few people. And while promoting this production and being busy networking, Tench soon established himself as a likeable and popular persona to boot.

And with the relative success of his old recordings, it seems that Tench' creativity was given a boost in between keeping in touch with hundreds of fellow musicians and fans worldwide. And after almost 30 years away from the game he's now a recording artist again, the digital single "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Screwed" the first direct result. An item that most likely came to be dye to Tench' activities on the internets, as he's brought in some additional musicians to this piece: UK bassist Gary Derrick, US drummer Victor Tassone and Italian tangents man Marco Chiappini. With Tench himself residing in Sweden this is a true to life international endeavour, enabled by broadband internet, social networking and file-sharing I presume.

As much as I would have liked to describe this as a perfect comeback by a talented artist flavouring his production with 25 years of unused creativity, this track isn't in that league. It's a pleasant enough item, with layered guitars in general and Gilmouresque soloing in particular as key features, with trons in the first half and a gentle piano in the second half as the main secondary motifs. Dark toned echoing guitar riffs are utilized to good dramatic effect in the first half, and the occasional alteration in pace and arrangements cater for variety quite nicely. The transitional phases tend to drop momentum ever so slightly, perhaps intended for dramatic effect but not quite managing to have that effect on me. One of those details that comes down to personal taste.

But it is an enjoyable piece. Instrumental, dampened in expression and refined in arrangements, with a sound and character to it that should find favour amongst fans of Pink Floyd in general and those fond of The Wall in particular. But with a mood and atmosphere subtly more joyful and positive than the aforementioned band and album referenced.

My rating: 60/100


Track list:
1. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Screwed 7:31