First things first. If Symon has quit the music business, why does he want his CD reviewed? Could this really be irony? From an American?
Opening with what could be mistaken for a clown's run-on music before continuing the aural equivalent of digestive torment with “ Eddie the Killjoy “that suffers from a grating mistuned riff that goes round and round in a purposeless circle. Carrying on regardless with “Confusionville” which sounds like Frank Zappa in a drunken car crash with Madness, this is music for the terminally unadventurous. Thankfully things do improve a bit and there is nearly a melody to “Girls Who Drink” although the structure of the track is still simplistic – imagine 'I Know a Song That Will Get on Your Nerves' only with a middle eight. Soon thereafter, “Just Don't Overdo It “impersonates chase music for the Chuckle Brothers as the manic guitar creates what can only be described as noise in amongst an incredibly naff sax riff. The only relief comes with the pacey swing of Going Back to Hong Kong - possessed of a less irritating structure for a start - a hummable hook (which quotes the theme to Quincy) and even well played solos. Unfortunately, it is but a small island on a CD whose other tracks are the audio equivalent of sea sickness.
For a band whose lead instruments are horns, the production brings out the most jarring frequencies in the saxes. They are thin and reedy, with no warmth to the sound, and when there is more than one in the mix they seem to fight each other instead of blending. Ultimately though, it's the song writing which lets the CD down the most as the tracks are dull, tuneless and repetitive with little movement and pointless bridges.
If Symon hasn't actually quit the music business, I think he should now give that course of action some serious consideration.