The Bell Rays – Hard Sweet and Sticky

Hard Sweet and Sticky ‘ The Bell Rays

BY CHRIS PEKEN

The departure of guitarist and songwriter Tony Fate prior to the recording of Hard, Sweet and Sticky has had a small but very tangible impact on The Bell Rays. Whist Fate had already contributed to the songwriting his absence during recording sees vocalist and co-writer Lisa Kekaula as the dominant force in terms of how the songs were recorded and produced; the result being a little more soul and a little less garage. Sure the MC5 meets Motown influence is still evident; it’s just a little more Motown and a little less MC5. Tracks like Infection and Coming Down still rock and riff behind Kekaula’s don’t-mess-with-the-diva vocals, but elsewhere there is more of the soul influence. Live Kekaula is one ferocious lady, prowling the stage, eyes-wide open and daring her audience to disagree with her; she is a fire and brimstone preacher with a dangerously sexual energy. But in the studio gentler soul tunes like The Fire Next Time and Wedding Bells make for pleasant changes of pace while you wait for the next ball-tearer as she reaches her outer limits as a vocalist ‘ after all there will only ever be one Aretha Franklin. But to prove that the rockers aren’t the only strength The Bell rays throw in Footprints on the Water, a great mid-tempo pop tune that allows Kekaula and the boys to better showcase their range, with a loping Red Hot Chilli Peppers Under the Bridge style guitar and simple rhythm pattern carrying band and audience along on the journey ‘ this really highlights the possibilities for The Bell Rays. Mixed blessing this time around from the church of Maximum Rock’n’Soul.

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