This classic rock set up is rewarded with a big message and a big title: Love Never Fails. A simple, effective and memorable melody, initially picked out by guitar at the top of the track, is pinned down by the vocal through the chorus, while smart chord changes do all the heavy lifting – creating a satisfying hook that drills into your ears each time it comes around.
Some tasty Hammond pad work wails and fizzes and swirls around while the rock steady rhythm section underpins a classic, in-your-face arrangement; all tom rolls and unfussy underpinning. Apart from the lead vocal’s sound, and the stop/start nature of the guitar riffs, it could almost be a lost Pink Floyd track.
Backing vocals are used tastefully and sparingly, a quiet harmony shadowing the lead through the chorus and the bridge to thicken the sound and warm up proceedings. Elsewhere, lyrics are explored in verses with a more free-wheeling feel, the vocal climbing around and throwing some phrases away to paint with some different colours.
When we get to the breakdown at the end of the bridge, we’re treated to some gang vocal ‘na-na-na’s to join in with, which is always fun. The tempo is a great choice: it’s essentially a marching pace – we’re strapped in and have no choice but to be led to the conclusion in an inexorable plod that dares us to stop.
When we get to the conclusion of a tight arrangement, the tempo slows to a halt and we get to look back at the ground covered. There, we can see it from here: ‘Writing on the wall / Love is always kind.’ Hear, hear!
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