Breakthru - Adventures Highway

Brum nearly-men show their class at last

Having rubbed shoulders on the local scene with Robert Plant, Black Sabbath and Slade, there’s a genuine sense of what-might-have- been about these Sutton Coldfield coulda-been-contenders. Previously judged on the sole historical evidence of the opportunistic, sickly psych-pop Ice Cream Tree 45 (presented here on an five-track overflow mini-CD of cack), there’s a real urgency to set the record straight 39 years late, with the funky rockin’ groove of Believe It and Here Comes The End, with its Who-ish backing and large organ to the fore.

In retrospect, few non-headline acts could muster the requisite heaviosity, tunes and melodic swagger of Breakthru. Beyond the automatic first impression of black, afroed singer Gary Aflalo fronting a bunch of white hairies, Breakthru, like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, also carried many welcome mod moves into their prog. Happiness, meanwhile, is very Arthur Lee. The Story Of Peer Gynt is back in opportunistic territory, but still a cool attempt at rocking up the classics.

Ultimately: no breakthru. But the band’s promise was spread between Wizzard, Supertramp, Leo Sayer, successful jingle-writing and the hit musical Hair.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Circle | CPW C108

Reviewed by Derek Hammond
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