Blending a nostalgic echo into your music only works if you understand why such sounds were so emotive in the first place. Mine Alone, the latest album from intimate dream, is the epitome of how you do just that, and Hugh Faulds takes the melodic instincts, guitar muscle, and pop-rock swagger of the 70s and carries them forward into a new age. As always, it ain’t what you do; it’s how you do it, and he mixes these pieces of the past with the black canvas of the present more deftly than most.
The title track opens proceedings, strutting forward on chart-friendly vibes and immediately establishing its hook before ‘Dark Clouds‘ then drops us into a groovy rock ‘n’ soul landscape, where West Coast sass meets Southern rock finesse. But even with such differing songs, the common thread is Faulds’ songwriting chops. He’s really good at this!
‘Won’t Forget’ almost sounds like a long-lost Deacon Blue track, never a bad thing, shimmering with the same pop sophistication, melodic warmth, and enough invention to keep things interesting. ‘In Your Head’ goes somewhere more feisty, yet still evoking a forgotten British new wave sound– furious, infectious, and enormous fun. Elvis Costello, eat your heart out! Then comes ‘Find Love’, which growls and grinds through a satisfying balance of riff and melody, building to anthemic salvos and addictive sonics. ‘Slow Down’, meanwhile, is a celebration of old-school rock ‘n’ roll, embracing the genre’s enduring pleasures while staying in the realm of celebration rather than mere imitation.
That’s ultimately what makes Mine Alone work. This isn’t retro music dressed up for a fancy night out; this is the real deal. Faulds takes the craftsmanship of classic pop-rock – memorable melodies, strong guitar parts, groove and choruses built to last – and puts it to work today, without losing sight of why such sonic moves were so effective to begin with.
The past may be audible here, but it isn’t in the driving seat. Mine Alone proves that great melodies, guitars and a killer chorus never really go out of fashion. Hugh Faulds gives those enduring ingredients a modern frame.