Amber Skies

The Jades’ 15 minutes of fame via the TV series You’re A Star proved that all publicity isn’t good publicity, but the all-girl trio have earned their rock spurs by getting over it and moving on. Amber Skies was recorded by Dave Odlum and comprises band-written originals, including infectious hook-laden tracks like ‘Sooner Or Later’, ‘Beautiful Thing’ and ‘Loser’. But they can stretch out too, as on ‘The Way’ which sweeps you off for five minutes in paradise, while chiming guitar fans should check out ‘Look At Me’. The sound rarely moves far from using guitars and drums as scaffolding for the girls’ soaring melodies and spine-tingling harmonies, so if you think slightly heavier Bangles you’ll be getting there. This welcome debut firmly and finally counters any lingering suspicion of The Jades as manufactured pretty girl band. But then, they’ve always been so much more than that.

KEY TRACK: 'Beautiful Thing'