Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Those who use the Cross Rhythms Festival as a means of charting Britain's ever expanding CCM talent will remember River, who changed their name to Info:Pop, and under both monikers gripped festival goers with some truly excellent alternative-edged guitar driven music yet completely missed the attention of the record companies. Well, their lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Ali Loaker now returns with this new team and I'm delighted to report that 'Dalek Boy' is an excellent album debut. The three opening cuts, "Everything Nothing" (exploring the sheer emptiness of materialism). "What If I?" (about returning to God) and "One God" (about 'a time to search the face of Jesus') are all excellent examples of edgy, hooky rock, well rounded at FFG studios (remember Eden Burning?). Like many debut albums, particularly those which; lack the deft hand of an experienced producer, occasionally the quality control slips. The proto-punk "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind" is simply too timeless and the belated change of rhythms clumsily executed. And when Ali does the full-throated bit, it's occasionally a bit too Bonoesque. But throughout there is some excellent lyric writing and once a producer gets to grips with the team Evergreen could be up there with the Fonos and the All Star Uniteds. Get in on the ground floor and send off for this album.

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