REVIEW BY ROB BRADFORD FOR JOE MEEK APPRECIATION SOCIETY NEWSLETTER. THE SPACE BABES – “TORNADO” / “REFLECTIONS” (CD single)


This delightful item arrived unannounced in the post recently. The Space Babes is not a group – but the work of one man, keyboard maestro Byron Elwell. Byron started piano lessons as a child and by the 1960s he was playing in various local groups. He was a great Joe Meek fan: “I always enjoyed playing Telstar.

The early 1970s saw me playing with Dave Kaye & The Dykons who did some records for Joe Meek before I joined. We played at Elvis Presley Fan Club conventions in many countries.” By the end of the 1970s, Byron had quit the music scene and eventually set up his own horticultural business. Now he’s semi-retired and finding more time for his music again. Thankfully for us, he’s returned to his first love of instrumentals. Byron’s used his keyboards (Technics KN6500 and Hammond XK2) to create a diverse array of sounds, textures and effects. Indeed ‘The Space Babes’ themselves are an ethereal electronic ‘heavenly choir’. They really do sound like ‘Ooohing’ and ‘Aaahing’ human voices. Tornados expert Tom Hammond really likes this, and Clem Cattini has a copy too. “Tornado” is cleverly constructed with the atmospheric keyboard - led main melody well to the fore, slipping between major and minor keys at will. The organ sound reminds me of the Jimmy O’Brien era. Other keyboards replicate drums, bass and piano and the haunting, nostalgic theme really does power along in fine style. The ‘Space Babes Voices’ are most effective. Byron was inspired by ‘our’ Tornados and the A1 Steam Trust who are constructing a brand new A1 steam engine (60163 “Tornado”) from the original blueprints. “Tornado” pounds along like the old ‘Iron Horse’ that it depicts. The trust are considering Byron’s melody as a promotional theme. “Reflections” is another original melody. This time, electric piano takes the lead with other keyboards providing support and replicating bass, drums, claves etc. Quite simply – it’s a beautiful, yearning, nostalgic theme. Further comment seems superfluous. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Byron admits that he’s writing more for pleasure than any commercial gain, although, naturally, he’d like his work to gain more exposure. I think that it deserves to. If you’d like a copy of this little gem, then £3.50 (incl. P&P) will secure one.

ROBOT. – A straight forward working of the Tornado’s fave with the Space Babes replacing Alan Caddy on the breaks. Unlike the original, Byron eschews the keychanges and modulations. A very good arrangement of real charm.

BACK ON THE ROAD. – Byron’s own little note say’s ‘Hitting The Road Again, like the old days. Bit Jazzy’. It’s not meant to be like the Tornados – but you could imagine Joe encouraging the boys to record this type of track for a 1960’s album. In some ways it sounds like early Peddlers fayre (members of whom passed briefly through the Tornados) and at other times it reminds me of the Reg Guest Trio on Noel Gordons ‘Lunchbox’ !!

Those were the days,eh ?

NEW HORIZONS. – Another of those yearning, keening keyboard/Space Babe ballards at which Byron clearly excells. Further comment would be superfluous.

FINAL FLIGHT. – Another fine and noble original melody. One can imagine that (had Joe lived) Joe would have loved Concorde and was the type of man to commemorate its passing in music. Byron keeps the spirit of that kind of thinking alive.

JE T’AIME..MOI,NON PLUS. – Ah, the controversy that the lovely Jane Birkin and that old roue Serge Gainsbourg caused even at the end of the permissive sixties. Me, in my callow youthful innocence, I wondered what all the fuss was about. I mean, all of that ridicuous breathiness was masking a beautiful melody was’nt it ? Sounds Nice, with Tim Mycroft on keyboards recorded a superb instrumental version. Full marks to Byron for recording a superb version, more in keeping with the latter than the former.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WAITING FOR THE CD ALBUM – WELL HERE IT IS. I THINK BYRON HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. HE’S CREATED AN ALBUM TO BE PROUD OF AND ONE THAT I’M SURE JOE MEEK/INSTRO BUFFS EVERYWHERE WILL LOVE. OK, MAYBE NOT EVERYONE WILL LOVE EVERY SINGLE TRACK – BUT BYRONS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FACT IN ADVANCE. NO FEWER THAN 13 OF THE 21 TRACKS ARE ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS AND MANY OF THOSE ARE OUTSTANDING. BYRON’S ALSO CHOSEN A GOOD MIX OF COVER VERSIONS AND SEVERAL OF HIS ARRANGEMENTS BRING THEM UP ‘NEWLY MINTED’. THERE IS MUCH TO ADMIRE ABOUT THIS CD, WHICH COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Track one gets off to a flying start. ‘Race against Time’ belts along at a cracking pace, with the sound of a large engine starting up at the beginning giving the impression that the ‘race is on.’ Excellent organ and guitar work on this very catchy composition from Byron. I would love to hear this track recorded by the Tornados. This one will definitely get your toes tapping!

‘Lisa’s Song’ is the exact opposite of ‘Race against Time’. On this track, Byron and his Space Babes are taking it nice and easy. A very memorable haunting melody, enhanced by the Space Babes ethereal voices, this was written as a tribute to the talented singer Lisa Grey. What a lovely tribute to a beautiful and talented lady.

‘Encounters’ another excellent catchy tune penned by Byron. Lovely organ sound on this, again with the ethereal voices, close your eyes and you can almost imagine this being recorded at 304 Holloway Road. This track is real class and one of my favourites.

‘Hidden Depth’s’ another really catchy tune written by Byron. This is a slow number but once I played it a couple of times, I found that I want to play it again and again. Looks like Byron’s found the formula.

‘Holloway Ghosts’ has Byron showing his versatility. This is completely different being an almost up-beat jazzy/bluesy type of tune with a great organ sound on it. I wasn’t keen on this to start with, but after a few spins, I love it

‘Fireball XL5’ is one of the best covers of this song that I have heard. It’s been a favourite of mine since the TV series in the sixties. Byron has put his stamp all over this one. Great!

‘Let It Be Me’ Is a brilliant cover of this Everly Brothers record. The piano comes over very well as do the Space Babes ethereal voices. This track sounds big, spacious and great with the volume cranked up.

‘In My Way’ the Dave Kaye song, is given the Space Babes treatment. This is another good cover from Byron. I always liked Dave’s version of this song, but like it even more now that I have heard it as an instrumental.

‘Tornado’ (alternative). The original version of this cracker was released on the ‘Worlds Apart’ album in 2003, and got its first air-play courtesy of Freddy Zapp on BBC Radio Cornwall. I don’t like this version as much as the original, but for people who haven’t heard it before I am sure they will love this version

The other covers on this CD including Life on Venus, Johnny Remember Me, Love and Fury and Globetrotter, have all got that extra little something. The Byron touch.

When I first heard Byron’s music it knocked me over, and I thought then as I do now that this guy is a brilliant composer/musician. His material sounds like it could have been written for the Tornados. I did contact both Clem Cattini and Roger La-Vern regarding Byron’s composing talents, and would they consider recording some of his material. You can sample three tracks on the Juke Box at Byron’s web-site: www.chestnutbankproductions.co.uk

‘Encounters’ is a CD that any instrumental fan will love, and is a ‘must have’ for your collection. A lot of time, effort, talent and dedication went into producing this CD and this is reflected in the finished product. NT

Visit Toms excellant web site www.the-tornados.com. On the home page enter the reviews by clicking your mouse on the picture of the CD Album, or click on the word Space Babes higher up and follow through there. Excellant reviews and complements from someone who has done so much to promote groups like the Tornados.