RUSH suggested that this album harks years standing, I've always tension/With our wild genetic (at 'Power Windows' back to their 'Hemispheres' thought I was pretty much in tune least, I think he says 'genetic') (Vertigo VERH 31) period, my least favourite Rush with what they're all about, but dreams'. And over on the other venture and the time when'l this album aims a little over my side Peart has Lee decrying that KKKK largely lost interest in the band head and I wonder if Rush we 'Don't feed the people/ But we I HAVE agonised long and hard (see 'Afterimages' issue 67). But haven't somehow lost sight of feed the machines' ('Territories' ). over this latest opus from Rush the curious turn of events here is who they're supposed to be Peart has the bit between his and I still can't honestly say I'm that 'Power Windows' is still one writing for- aside from teeth and although he rambles much the wiser as to what is of Rush's most compelling works themselves that is. elsewhere, when he does find his going on here overall. Mr Barton to date. This is a complex, top-heavy mark he strikes home with seems to have put an astute Where 'Power Windows' work that gets caught up in its considerable venom. fi on the problem when he scores decisively over own enthusiasm. You cannot Which brings us to the album's 'Hemispheres' is in the strength fault Rush for their musicianship, killer (quite literally) track and and directness (after a fashion) of which is unifornily superb; notice Rush 's most cogent slice of Neil Peart's lyrics. The last couple especially Peart's drumming on invective yet released, of Rush albums have seen Peart 'Mystic Rhythms', Alex Lifeson's 'Manhattan Project'. This album producing some of his finest heavy guitar approach to would be worth buying for this lyrics ever, their economy'and Territories' and Geddy Lee's track alone. The 'Manhattan precision have been quite quite excellent bubbling bass Project' refers to America's excellent. Here he allows himself lines on 'Grand Designs' and pooling of Europe's finest a little more reign and, ' Middletown Dreams'. Butthey scientific minds, ' the brightest personally, I'm not convinced get carried away, it seems, and boys', to create the world's first that's an altogether smart move. co-producer Peter Collins (Nick atomic bomb, 'to play with the But he seems to be in the process Kershaw, Gary Moore, etc) has biggest toys'. The result, as Peart of breaking out into wholly new done nothing to pull them back wryly observes, was 'more than ground. into line. There's a great beauty they bargained for' . Hiroshima This is Peart's most politically in simplicity, particularly when, and Nagasaki were laid to waste biased work and biased not, as as here, Peart is attempting to and the world 'would be changed you might reasonably expect, in make some very valid social and for evermore'. Here the OTT favour ofthe Rambo-style of political points. Listen to a song arranging, with string support extremism with which he's been like U2's 'Sunday, Bloody and vocal effects, it not out of associated in the past. Happily, Sunday' and its message is place. Th is is gripping stuff and Peart appears to have undergone enhanced not diminished by the should on no account be missed. some kind of Centrist shift in his simplicity ofthe arrangement This is a fine album performed views and there are some sharply and delivery. to Rush 's customary exacting observed 'protest songs' Still, compelling, as I said, this standards. My criticism is only contained herein. That said, there most certainly is. Peart coins that it's too involved, too are still some things packed into some of his most powerful lines overpowering for most of us to these songs that, given the on this album : ' So much poison come to grips with. limited time I've had to live with in powerffhe principles get left DAVE DICKSON them, I've been unable to decode. out', cries Geddy on 'Grand Having been a Rush fan of many Designs'; ' We break the surface HOREREVIEW7PAGEZO RUSH: 'The Big Money' (Vertigo) RUSH NEVER cease to amaze me, they're one oftheleWbands always willing to experiment and try something new and different with each release. And here once again we hear Messrs Lee, Lifeson and Peart melt da grooves with some interesting sounds. If you wanna keep up with the Joneses I strongly urge you to purchase this wee gem, and don't let the naff sleeve put you off.