Tony Poole “Faith In Us”

An album that harks backwards but yet is very much of today.

“Faith In Us” is Tony Poole’s first solo album in over fifty years as a musician, and it’s an absolute cracker. If ‘Tardis Rock’ was a thing, this would be at the forefront. Every song harks back to a bygone era, but at the same time feels strangely futuristic in the same way Bowie used to. Having started his career back in 1974, Poole has been in several Bands and worked as an engineer for the likes of Maddy Prior and The Men They Couldn’t Hang, among others. He also established and ran Aurora Music.

Every track offers a heady mix of jangling guitars and close harmonies throughout. They are sublime, very reminiscent of CSNY or the Moody Blues. As well as providing the vocals, Poole plays most of the instruments. In addition, he is also joined by a few of his friends and former bandmates, allowing an extremely tight but still relaxed sound.

As you would expect from someone with so much experience, this feels a very ‘grown up’ album, but saying that, it isn’t remotely world weary; it does, however, have more than a touch of scepticism. Subjects covered range from contemplating how values are learnt from birth to dealing with his experiences at his Boarding School and the decline of the rainforests. There are also at least three love songs, all of which are optimistic but question if true love is ultimately delusional. Close your eyes, and the title track could be the Byrds, so close are the harmonies “If we don’t have faith in us, what is anything worth?”. Poole finds himself contemplating how children are born with no prejudice or intolerance, but somehow they still find their way into the human psyche.

‘Chelsea Girls (1965)’ references his personal experience in and around London during the sixties. For listeners of a certain age, it will bring back a number of hopefully happy memories and references from a much simpler, less cruel time. ‘Imagine This’ takes up where John Lennon left off.” Imagine every human being sharing the world in peace and freedom… imagine that; no hate no hunger, imagine that; no greed no plunder.” Each track is a little minuet with a glorious cinematic feel.

Poole was electrocuted on stage in Atlanta in 1975 and was lucky to survive. He joked afterwards, “I am the resurrection and the Life”, a particularly bold statement. However, with “Faith in Us”, he has achieved something very interesting indeed: an album both stuck in time but still looking forward, this is definitely worth a listen.