Redondo Beat: Meet Redondo Beat

Roman Aul has been working under the band name Redondo Beat for over a decade. Now, after recording two albums heavily influenced by crunching ’70s power-pop and the East Coast sounds of the early ’60s, the German-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter has invited members of his touring group, drummer Maximilian Schneider and backing singer Katrin Marleen Einert, to join him in the studio.

The result is Meet Redondo Beat, a glossier, reverential pop record that gradually moves away from the cruisin’, top-down power-pop and heads back to a time when the likes of Duane Eddy, Danny and the Juniors, Paul Anka, and Conway Twitty ruled the roost. In fact, the latter two rockin’ pop crooners’ ’50s hits, Anka’s “Diana” and Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe”, are respectfully resurrected as “Melina” and “I’ll Never Let You Go”.

Although it may be fun playing spot-the-melody, Aul’s third album, apart from the moody ’60s garage excellence of “Break-A-Heart”, merely makes for a pleasant diversion that never comes close to the presence of his long player When the Day Turns in Tonight.