HOLD YOUR FIRE

Another one of rock 'n' roll's great ironies - the highly-collectible record that musically-speaking isn't particularly good - Patto's second album is apparently almost as rare as it's superior, textured-covered predecessor, making original vinyl copies extremely hot property for serious record collectors and rock geeks. Released in 1971, 'Hold Your Fire' would sadly fail to build on the promise of 'Patto', featuring a dispiriting pop edge that jars badly with the groups trademark, vibraphone-inflected jazz-rock sound. Whilst the first album was fresh and different, 'Hold Your Fire' seems lightweight and unfocused, made up mainly of short, uninspired numbers that fail to properly utilise the considerable talents of criminally-underrated guitarist Ollie Halsall or even Mike Patto's husky vocals. The creative juices that flowed in such a carefree fashion on such nuggets as 'Government Man' and 'Hold Me Back' have here simply run dry, leading to a dull collection that falls somewhere between weak psychedelic pop and ballroom jazz - a definite backward step. For a group this talented, 'Hold Your Fire' is a serious disappointment.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012