The Bellrays: Have a Little Faith

Herald rating: * * *

The BellRays' singer Lisa Kekaula has the afro of Chaka Khan and the voice of Aretha.

She was also the voice behind Basement Jaxx's excellent single Good Luck from a few years ago.

So it's booming, soulful, and uplifting stuff that she brings to the BellRays, a band she formed with guitarist Bob Venuum in 1990.

When her deep diva soul is married with the rough and ready blues punk rock of the rest of the band it sometimes doesn't quite fit, but this often odd combination would be great to see live.

The BellRays were to tour here with Aussie stalwarts Radio Birdman in August but cancelled. Shame.

Whether the BellRays' sound works depends on the song. On the throbbing opener Tell A Lie it does work, but on the disturbing Pay the Cobra the synthesis sounds contrived.

It's the rarked-up songs like Detroit Breakdown and Change the World that go amiss. However, when they strip things back - while still keeping it low-down and dirty - on the loping Lost Disciple or the meditative blues of Everyday I Think Of You, they're at their best.

Verdict: The band's Aretha Franklin soul meets rock'n'roll is sometimes a funny fit

Label: Shock