Caramel Sunset by Taffy

For more details www.taffy8.com/

Caramel Sunset is a sweet and dramatic album with a hint of mystery and secrets yet to be revealed.

The 10-track is the creation of a fourseome from Japan that bring the mystery of the Orient to their rock songs.

The album kicks off with Between, a track that is familiar yet alien, with ilustrious rock guitar rolling out before the pretty chic flick-style voice of Iris.

Next up we have Candylane, again it is a brew of mashing guitars and a rock stadium sound topped by Iris's crystal stream, younger than springtime vocals but this time layered with a psychedelic feel of incense burners and bright shimmering colours.

Haah is a heaavier track, darker vocals with an intensity that shakes the hand and a guitar solo of infinite beauty.

=3 on the contrary is a light, dancey number that defies anyone to stand still. There are overtones of Eliza Dolittle but with more punch. This is the hit in my book, a summer sound with wave guitar conjuring up sand, sea and surfing.

Slow psychechedlic and mysterious is the love song Indetermination with a wow ending.

We go back to rock with happy harmonies and a merry step in Canary. Each single has complex guitar work that flows on to centre stage and then nestles gently back under the main attraction of Iris' soaring vocals.

Eastern promise is again on the menu with He Was and a cheeky little tune bursts into Flowertime with its rock and roll beat.

Dreamtime in the Aussie outback is captured in M23-7-8, a beautiful haunting track, Muse-esque in feel.

The appropriately named So Long ends the album with Iris' sharp, clean lyrics ringing out for whom the bell tolls with some strong close harmony backing.

I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so! Good stuff. -

Flicky Harrison