SHIVER

The clear winner in John Wesley's catologue, "Shiver" explodes with dynamic, guitar-led rock, propelled by earnest songwriting, simple yet thoughtful lyrics, and an elegant mood which will easily grab the listener from start to finish.

"Shiver" presents a variety of songs, from big melodic rockers to moving ballads or slinky grooves. Most songs are mid-tempo, approachable, and very memorable. Wesley's use of layered guitar shines in this crystal clear production, giving us a rich pallette of sounds to appreciate. Although his earlier releases had a somewhat limited impact, Wesley seems to have picked up some new tricks from his time spent with Steven Wilson-- who also produced "Shiver". Fans investigating "Shiver" via Porcuine Tree will not be let down; there is a definite modern, prog vibe to these songs, although they certainly differ in style to modern PT. "Shiver" leans towards an intelligent (electric) singer/songwriter feel, with catchy lyrics and melodies; accessible, but never dismissable.

The excellent, crafted feel to the songs and Wesley's guitar playing is very vibrant, making for a memorable, emotive crossover experience.

Songwriting: 3 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 4 Style/Emotion/Replay: 5