Again reaching back to the 80's, Reach the Beach is an album that is undatable. Understandably there is some period production value, however the words and music transcend time.

So what is about? The title sums it up it up perfectly. The album is the sophmore release from the Fixx. The theme is of course the shore and water. The title track Reach the Beach is deeply romantic on a personal level. Cy Curnin writes, "When in your eyes I see the sign, A teasing passion for a desperate man." You know that every ounce of sincerity is laid on the table.

Musically the album/CD is sound. There are a couple hits from the era, but the best songs are album tracks such as Reach the Beach, Liner, The Sign of Fire and Changing.

When I listened to Reach the Beach, I was a mere teen. My friends and I would visualize the songs as we would trek 80 miles to the beach. The music is not for everyone, however true audiofiles will recognize the character in this music as powerful, intimate and intricate. Sounds that stand out are percussion and Jamie West-Oram's rolling guitar licks. When he is at his best you can tell he is truly 'playing' the guitar is merely a means of producing sounds of the time.

It is clear there is an understanding of mood and purpose between Cy Curning and Jamie-West Oram as each song is painted out. For you, the listener all this production value is unobtrusive. What you take from this is an understanding or an association with the song-writer. You become the song-writer. You understand the words because the music demands it. The music and words work well enough that your mood is transformed from anything you are going through to a man that needs to reach the beach. And for what it is worth, the Beach represents the ideal woman. The woman you may only find in your dreams. And like the ebb and flow of the surf, you find yourself awash in you attempts to draw closer and swim to her shore.

The entire album is not a beach bound adventure, but the overall feel puts you in the mood to search out that sunny sky and warm day at the beach. It gives you hope and makes you think.