ZEBRA CROSSING

In 2018 Perdomo had the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream, while in the UK touring with Dave Kerzner he was able to book some time Abbey Road Studios and deliver a homage to The Beatles (with plenty of Todd Rundgren and ELO along the way, at their most Beatlesque). He is renowned as a hard-working musician for hire, running his own label, and playing alongside the likes of Dave Kerzner and Jakob Dylan in their bands. Here he has collaborated on songs with Zak Nilsson (son of Harry), Cyndi Trissel and Beach Boys lyricist Stephen Kalinich. This is Sixties power pop, combining with Seventies attitude and modern-day recording techniques and production to deliver an album which is impossible not to enjoy from beginning to end. As is expected, Fernando provides virtually all music and vocals, although he is joined by Danny Ayala, Megan Zeankowski and Ken Sharp on 'Find Love (Hold On)' which was the initial single. One of the joys of this is the way it takes the listener back in time, yet is timeless as well, and the wonderfully layered strings provides a classic feel to the proceedings.

In many ways the album feels as if it is leading us to the last song, 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. Apparently, the day Fernando went into the studio it was the fiftieth anniversary of when the band started recording the song, so he just had to do a version. This has a whole host of guests involved, with layered vocals, plenty of old-time piano and strident guitar. It may not beat the all-time classic version (by Yellow Matter Custard of course) but is a bloody fine way to end the album. This may not be the progressive workout which may have been expected by some, but is a bloody fine album for all that.