Hot on the heals the of the great late 70s Fleetwood Mac-esque release Hot Knives, Got Kinda Lost Records have dug out another rare gem. Promise’s self titled album was released in 1980 but shares a post-Beatles sound made famous by the likes of Badfinger in the early 70s.
Promise were actually from Boulder, Colorado whereas their sound reflects an English McCartney sensibility. With its upbeat chiming acoustic and electric guitars ‘Back In My Heart’ certainly epitomises power-pop.
Like Liverpool Express without orchestration, the songwriting and playing is strong throughout. From Mersey rocker ‘Hand of Luck’, the acoustic gentle psych of ‘Lucky Star’ to the upbeat Blackbird sounds of ‘Captain Domino’ .
Finishing with electric guitars and harmonies in force with ‘Putman’s Ranch’, it highlights that Promise deserve to be included in the pantheon of power-pop’s finest.