On the Beach

Influenced by Joe Walsh and Ry Cooder, Chris Rea is a British singer-songwriter and a fine slide guitarist. This 1986 release is his eighth album. Its title song became very popular in Japan after being used in a beer commercial the following year.

As the cover suggests, a languid mood runs throughout. A bossa nova-like rhythm and his husky singing are an exquisite match, giving the album its own colour. The opening ‘On the Beach,’ followed by ‘Little Blonde Plaits,’ ‘Lucky Day,’ ‘Just Passing Through’ and ‘Hello Friend,’ offers mellow, resort-scented songs and relaxed vocals that feel delightful to the ear. His supple guitar playing, faintly touched by blues, is memorable too.

Among more than twenty albums he had released by the time of this review, this was no extraordinary sales phenomenon. Yet the sweet, beautiful languor soaked through it has an irresistible charm, like a siesta in the hot summer.