Ocean Drive (CD - 1995)

Additional personnel: Simon Eyre, David Brewis (guitar); Gavin Wright (violin); London Session Orchestra (strings); Phil Todd (flute, brass); Tim Kellett (trumpet, flugelhorn); Pete Wingfield (piano); Rupert Brown (drums); Frank Ricotti (vibes); Danny Cummings (percussion); Lain Gray, Lawrence Johnson & Heard But Not Seen, Clive Griffin, Tee Green, Steven Dante, David Grant, Pennie and Carrie (background vocals).

Personnel: Tunde Baiyewu (vocals, background vocals); David Brewis, Simon Eyre (guitar); Gavyn Wright (violin); London Session Orchestra (strings); Philip Todd (flute, brass); Tim Kellett (trumpet, flugelhorn); Pete Wingfield (piano); Paul Tucker (keyboards); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone); Rupert Brown (drums); Danny Cummings (percussion); Mel Wesson (programming); Clive Griffin, David Grant, Heard But Not Seen, Steven Dante, Tee Green, Lawrence Johnson , Lain Gray (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Michael Peden; Phil Bodger.

Recording information: Battery Studios (1995); Cts Studios (1995); EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England (1995); Uncle Sams Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne (1995).

Photographer: Norman Watson.

Arrangers: Michael Peden; Lighthouse Family.

Ocean Drive, the debut album from the London-based duo Lighthouse Family, is a modest, but extremely pleasant affair that makes for excellent rainy-day listening. While some may find Paul Tucker and Tunde Baiyewu's song stylings a little too soft rock for their taste, the smooth guitar chords and quiet percussion quickly become addictive. Not to mention the album's best tunes, "Lifted" and "Ocean Drive," are virtually guaranteed to buoy one's spirits. "Ocean Drive" is particularly transporting; if you close your eyes and let your mind wander while listening to this track, you can almost feel yourself driving along the coast, the wind in your hair and your responsibilities left behind. The other songs aren't quite on the same level, but they are still fun to listen to. "Loving Every Minute" features some great trumpet backup from "Tim Kellett," and the drums on "Keep Remembering" and "Sweetest Operator" certainly get your feet tapping. The album ends on a high note with "Goodbye Heartbreak," a song about love and loss that makes a nice bookend to the upbeat first track, "Lifted." With the exception of these two songs and "Ocean Drive," the weakest aspect of the record is the lyrics, which range from the forgettable to the inscrutable. Fortunately, lead singer Baiyewu possesses such a strong voice, you can treat it as another instrument and tune out what he is actually saying. The group's real strength is the music anyway. A great album to put on while you're reading or just sitting quietly by yourself. ~ Ethan Alter minimize