Add Money to the long list of New Wave of British Heavy Metal era bands who had to chops but no the breaks.
Their sole album – First Investment – came and went without making a blip, though it did well in Japan.
First Investment shows Money were a bit different from the normal NWOBHM stuff with the layered harmonies, proggy edge and quirky style which reminds your reviewer of long-lost Canadian pop-rock band Zon – oh, and the Queen influences are somewhat obvious.
Perhaps Money were too different to make a mark and push on to emerge from the NWOBHM mosh pit. What certainly did not help the band was apparently losing the support slot on Rush’s 1979 European tour because the record label wouldn’t stump up the buy-in.
What about the music then?
Mari-Anna is a glorious opening track. Excellent slashing, chunky riff developing in to a fine heavy rocker featuring some nifty lead breaks. Check it out:
Leo the Jester is not is a dissimilar vein staring to hint and the quirkiness/progginess to come whilst still managing to have a strong edge.
(Aren’t We All) Searching rocks along nicely too with the Queen-style stuff evident then Geneva has an infectious feel to it, especially the chorus.
A couple of what I’ll call “short interludes” follow which seem out of place as does the “a capella break” (what’s all that about) though then we’re back in to the edgy, quirky rockiness with the finely arranged Statement and Demands, Remembering and Goddess.
With the undeniable talent in the band, being signed to Gull Records (same label as Judas Priest at the time) and some critical acclaim it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to expect big things for Money.
Alas, it did not (how much did the lost Rush support contribute to that?) and the band faded in to nothing a few years later.
However, First Investment remains a fine album and sounds strong and fresh four decades later. File it in the “lost NWOBHM classic” category and something to get your ears around. The Rock Candy remastering first class as always too.
>> MONEY FIRST INVESTMENT ON AMAZON HERE <<
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