Reviewed by non compos mentis....

In 1997 Iain Archer released this independent EP, co-produced by himself and ICC's Dave Lynch. It's a deliberate attempt on Iain's part to move away from the folk roots of his his first two albums and experiment with darker electric sounds.

It kicks off with the title track Revelation Bell, driven along by power chords and distorted rhythm guitar. The lyrics are clearly intelligent and thoughtful, but lack the poetic imagery of his earlier works. Flat Earth is a reworking of the song from Crazy Bird into a band arrangement, and sounds rather bleaker than the original version although the lyrics remain unchanged.
Bearing Star is an acoustic ballad (the only one on the CD) which would blend seamlessly into the Crazy Bird album. It's still performed in concert occasionally, and stands out as the high point of this collection. Nothing To Remember is surprisingly catchy, one of those tunes which delves into your brain and won't let go. Rather repetitive lyrically, the accompaniment however seems to hold the song back from ever really getting going, and by the end it feels like an opportunity missed.
Got Me Gone is a rock workout, lacking the melodic beauty that characterises Iain's best songs, and also the vocal sweetness of which he's so capable. The lyrics are often virtually inaudible - a result of the overdrive effects added to the lead vocal among a "wall of sound" mix. It's followed by Drill, with surreal though often poetic lyrics. Relying almost entirely on a simple repeated acoustic guitar pattern, it disappoints only in that it promises more in the opening bars than it ever actually delivers.
Presumably not about a big shark, the album-closing track Great White is refreshing in that the bass and percussion backing add imagination and interest to another slow-paced lament. But it seems to run out of ideas and direction before its seven minutes are up, bringing the CD to an unsatisfying close.

After the promise of Iain's first two albums, this CD is rather a let down. In searching for a new direction Iain seems to have strayed away from what he's so good at - crafted, heartfelt songs and supremely musical accompaniments. There are hints here, in the lyrics to Drill or the guitar work of Bearing Star, of what this CD could have been but never manages. Hearing this from an unknown band, I might give it a couple of listens and appreciated it, but from someone of Iain's talent I know deep down it could be so much better.