Two decades ago, fuelled by Craig Walker’s trenchant songs, the Dublin trio Power of Dreams debuted in the album stakes with a work of enviable swagger and confidence. Listening to it at all these years later makes it no easier to fathom why Power Of Dreams, despite aggressive major label backing, failed in the commercial world after such a meteoric entry into a scene still a-tremble with U2-inspired euphoria. Re-released here, this impressive work comes with a 20-track bonus CD that ranges from raw early demos to tracks borrowed from other contemporary releases and live recordings.
Walker had a wordy maturity that belied his mere 18 years, as evidenced on songs like ‘Does It Matter’ and ‘Had You Listened’. There’s a Byrds-meet-An Emotional Fish jangle frenzy about ‘Never Been To Texas’, while a Something Happens-esque rush drives ‘Stay’. In the live arena, the trio’s astringent guitar pop became an exhilarating teeth-rattling sonic assault, and is raucously captured here on ‘Where Is The Love’ and The Doors’ ‘Break On Through’.
Sadly, at the start of the Nineties, the world had other more important matters to attend to, like Jason Donovan and Celine Dion, so the dream had powered down by 1995. But if you missed this gem first time round, now’s your chance to capture a key moment in Irish rock history.