Dave Foster and Dinet Poortman get progressive pop off to a tee.

Release Date: 31st May 2024 (physical) 28th June 2024 (streaming)

Label: English Electric Recordings

Format: CD / digital / LP

A busy year for Dave Foster. With Glimmer released just over a year ago, he’s also continued his commitments to riding the Big Big Train and being an integral part of the Steve Rothery Band. Having said that, the announcement of his departure from BBT perhaps indicates a greater concentration on his solo work. Judging by Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us, it’s a smart move.

Serving up another eight classy tracks that showcase his often fearsome, always tasteful guitar playing along with the songwriting partnership and vocals of Dinet Poortman. Steve Rothery returns to do a turn for his pal along with bassist Mark King of Level 42, as well as regular guest musicians that include bassist Neil Fairclough (Queen + Adam Lambert), drummer Leon Parr (Steve Rothery Band), pianist Anthony Hindley, former Big Big Trainer Carly Bryant and string arranger Stephen Boyce Buckley. Although he’s a guitarist/ gunslinger extraordinaire, The Dave himself doesn’t rely on what Derek Sherinian would call ‘guitar wankery’ – the self indulgent spotlight on feeding the ego.

Having said that, a reminder that he’s an axeman of repute, he fills the opening few bars of Sleep Spindles with a few choice phrases – a kind of tiny amuse bouche and lovely tone as the companions all join in. The awareness of serving the song helps set up a busy bassline at the start of Talent To Failure and sees the guitar, that due to the Rothery sound might actually be him, that’s sitting subtly beneath the vocal.

Anyone who’s seen the acoustic version of the band – ie, Dave and Dinet at the recent SRB weekends in Glasgow and Manchester – will appreciate Pollyanna. The track gets a bigger production with a lush string part accompanying the simplicity of the guitar/vocal arrangement. Despite the swathes of strings, there’s still an intimacy about the mix that places an emphasis on an up close vocal. Fizzing Pop Rock bursts unexpectedly in These Tendencies – the vocal imploring “maybe they’ll come back“. The urgency hinting at the distress and panic that the line and the pessimistic nature of the album title suggest. Along with the reflective vibe of Delicate Things, it’s one veiled indication of the Muse inspired Foster coming to the fore with the three minute mark invaded by a wiry and searing guitar solo which is his trademark.

Acoustic chops return for The Optimist. Another which kicks in after a low key opening, with the “you feel like you belong here” line, a strong bassline and what emerges is real single material. The “All we can do right now is live in hope,” part is a real earworm and hook. Just lying in wait is the guitar solo you hope will come and which the song deserves.

A Beatle-y Queen Of Maybe (that may be a reference to a certain song from a certain 1973 album by certain band) is a lovely piece that lulls gently with an easy restraint. However, what stands out if not very but very clear are what they often call the pop sensibilities and knackfor writing a good tune. The ‘progressive’ profile is saved until the Whirling Of Whales finale; itself containing a furious finale (again the cruicial three minute mark) with an epic guitar part that sees Maybe They’ll Come Back… rock at its hardest on last last balls out, blow out.

This ‘progressive pop’ tag suits the DFBand well.

Here’s Sleep Spindles:

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