I Spy- A Drop in the Ocean (Self Released Portugal)

I Spy is a band lead by local musician, Andy Shades. I have seen the band many times and this is their first release!!  It was recorded over the last several years in Andy´s studio in Portugal.  It was mixed by Andy and Larry Lush (UK music producer from the 90s).  It features 10 original songs and starts off with the title track, a cool psychedelic rocker.  Rising is an acoustic guitar driven love song or sorts and has a more laid back and bluesy feel with the lead guitar and organ. Later there is a great keyboard solo by Larry.  Monsters, is a very political track, speaking about the nasty side of humans and has a sort of groove like Drop in the Ocean. The vocals are very passionate and lyrics very powerful. Ghosts is a more moody track but that same danceable groove is mixed in with a jazzy piano solo. It is great they leave space for all the musicians to have their chances for solos. I like that. Sorry is probably the most mellow and laid back piece and the first to prominently feature Andy playing sax. Wild Embrace, picks up the pace again and gets very heavy with the lyrics. Great psychedelic guitar solo on this and then a violin solo!  Abort is a live fave that they often play.  Always Break the Rules is a track I have never heard before and a sort of piano driven ballad of sorts. When will it end kicks the pace up a bit and a happy good groove.  Gotta Give it Away ends this first album by I Spy!  I think it is a nice and diverse picture of what the band does and sounds good. Drums could sound better though. Maybe a bit too political for some people but Andy has something to say to the world and this is a good way to do it, in music… 

http://andyshades.bandcamp.com