Clockwerk – Clockwerk

Clockwerk
Clockwerk
1988 (no label)
Australia

Tim Hawkins – Lead vocals, guitar
Ainslie Grosser – Keyboards, harmony vocals
Grant Grosser – Bass, harmony vocals
Martin Beattie – Drums, percussion

Side 1:

1. Maybe Next Time
2. Brand New Start
3. Rock Your Socks Off
4. Pardoned Forever
5. Drawing Lines

Side 2:

1. Sing It
2. All in Good Time
3. Tell Him
4. Will You Follow
5. What a Way to Go

Based on the cover and band title, I was hoping for a really quirky new wave band. But that was not the case – it seems this is keyboard-based rock along the lines of Petra. Its not horribly bad, but it doesn’t stand out either. The awkward part is that there is a handwritten note in it to the person that bought it explaining that the band had broken up because they felt the CCM industry was signing bands with no talent and all image. Which certain was the case… but he put this demo as an example of a quality band that should have been signed. Not quite. With more work maybe, but the song writing needed some work, and some of the musicians needed practice. There are a few places where the guitar solos really struggle. Unfortunately, this was the case so often in churches. Musicians would put forth an okay effort, and people wouldn’t say anything to them just to be nice and only say positive things. And yes, I realize that in 1988, most bands with this sound were gone in the mainstream market, but in the CCM world Petra was still riding high and labels were putting out a lot of bands like this. That could have been the problem for Clockwerk as well: so many other bands doing this style better that they couldn’t get attention.