Airwaves - New Day (1978)

Airwaves, a British progressive rock group of the late 70s.

"New Day" is the debut album from Airwaves, a british rock band. A delighful record really, sort of  like 10CC lite and Klaatu without the progressive tendencies. To get a feel for the album, it is important to first note that they were a studio band. And second, that the album is really good. Half of the time, it brings oldies rock and roll "up to date" to the production smoothness of the late 70's. Think if Chuck Berry and Beach Boys were recording their music with super-slick 70's production. The Album begins with a "Kokomo" drum beat and "dirty bad-ass" synthesizers in "Love Stop". The song kinda sounds like Foreigner's "Urgent" backed with Bee Gee harmonized vocals. Its funky, but not what makes the album good. The next song sounds like typical 70's smooth rock, part Wings, part Beach Boys "Aren't You Glad". "The Cat" begins with a cat 'meow' and slinks into a slowed up "Footloose bounce" synthesized bass line. "The Cat" is like the first track in mood and delivery. "Keep Away the Blues" is a catchy folky lite-rock single. Echoed verse and harmonized backgrounds give tremendous depth to this positive, motivational track. Somewhat of a ballad, "Hope You Won't" is still bouncy, but the vocals slowly rise and fall along the melody, asking his new love to stay. Next, they slow it down even more, to deliver their most famous song (by internet search standards): the completely accapella "You Are the New Day." It has the feeling of a church choir singing a Christmas carol. Here is a sample of a cover by the Kings Singer. Side 2 picks up the pace slightly with the sadly inevitable sequel to "Hope You Wont:" "So Hard Living Without You." This could easily be an Air Supply song, except the production is more in line with the Beach Boys...this song is the link between those two bands. "Nobody Is" is their rendition of Chuck Berry's "Never Can Tell." This is a really great song, with a pleasant, quick tempo, and even a loud guitar solo, going in a completely different direction than the rest of the album. Because of this track, Let Me In is not the stand out track. The originality continues into "Hideaway." The chorus is very catchy, but creatively timed. A bit slower than "Nobody Is," but just as positively optimistic as "Keep Away The Blues." The next song, "Don't Let the Daylight In" is just like "The Cat" and "Love Stop," in musical style. Being another slowed up version of "Urgent, " it feels like background music to a poorly conceived early 80's detective TV show. Finally, like any good High-School essay, the album ends with a nice concise thesis, summarizing everything that came before it with "Go Better."

 

01.    Love Stop   (John David)  - 3:24
02.    Let Me In   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:17 
03.    The Cat   (John David)  - 2:46
04.    Keep Away The Blues   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:21 
05.    Hope You Won't   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:30 
06.    You Are The New Day   (John David)  - 2:08 
07.    So Hard Living Without You   (John Bettis, Kerry Chater)  - 3:30 
08.    Nobody Is   (John David)  - 3:18
09.    Hideaway   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:01 
10.    Don't Let The Daylight In   (Paul Cobbold, Francis Russell)  - 3:42 
11.    Go Getter   (John David)  - 4:05
   
Released:  1978
Label:  Mercury
Genre:  Pop, Rock
Time:  36:02
Producer:  Pat Moran 
Engineer:  Pat Moran
Recorded at:  Rockfield Studios, Wales, U.K., 1977
Mastered at:  A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Mastered By:  Bernie Grundman
Engineer [Assistant]:  Dave Charles

Credits

Dave Charles - Drums, Percussion
John David - Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards
Ray Martinez - Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Horns