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The
third Rose single released on Fire records on 09/03/87 on vinyl
7" and 12" format, including for the first time, a
limited edition 12" with a 'Mainline' remix of the title
track, an extra track ("Mainline Man") and
special rose embossed sleeve. Read
the press release here. This
record represents the first total break from material written by
the original Rose of Avalanche lineup
(Morris / Berry / Davis) with all the recordings being new tracks
written during 1986 / 87. This record also represents the first
complete recording with the Rose Mark 2 line
up of Morris / Berry / Schultz / McKay / Thompson. The
band must have completed the recording sessions during The Mission
World Crusade support slots of late 1986
/ early 1987, which although must have
been exhausting, really helped to develop their live performance
capability, which is evident in the Always There sessions. All
the songs have that classic rock 5 piece line up feel. The
title track "Always There" did always feel like
it was playing up to the Goth genre, as the lyrical theme is
pretty depressing being based around suicide, and the opening drum
pattern reminds the listener of The Sisters of Mercy's
"Alice". However, that aside, "Always There"
continues the growing body of sophisticated, complex dual guitar
work, now benefiting from the warmer, less mechanical, rhythm
section of McKay and Thompson. The
Rock 'n' Roll roots resurface on "Mainline Man",
which is similar in style to some of the earlier tracks featuring
on the "LA Rain" and
"Goddess" singles, and
the track quickly became established in the Rose's live
repertoire. Homage
is again paid to the Rose's influences, with a cover of The Doors
"Waiting
For The Sun". Despite being a huge fan of The Doors
myself, I really think the Rose managed to make this song their
own with a great version of the track. Finally,
we behold the might that is "Majesty". I
described this as a "fantastic, orgasm of wonder!". I
defy anyone that loves guitar music not to give in to their heart
strings being plucked and tickled by the closing 1:30 in
particular. Every time I hear that track it still gives me that
warm fuzzy feeling where my brain must be releasing some
unpronounceable chemical, telling me this is rather good, give me
more... I
truly believe no other band was writing music like this in 1987,
and I think the band felt the same. You could feel the growing
resentment of being overlooked by the mainstream press who at the
time were under the spell of Mr Hussey and The Mission. Of course
that is not to say the Rose were not blameless in all this. They
never were "media" friendly in the same way as The
Mission were, and maybe naively, felt the music should do the
talking.
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