"Romana"
Review by Jonatan Sigurdsson
"Romana" is the opening track of Side B of Fehr Beach, and for the most part, it delivers.
​
Immediately we are drawn into a dynamic, forward-moving instrumentation spearheaded by Davy's bass riff and the soldiering beat of the floor tom. After a brief introduction to the other players o the piece - namely, the guitars - a thundering downbeat-blasting rhythm dominates the verses, shadowed below by Davy getting a little too trigger-happy on the bass, and above by his vocals.
​
His bass during the verses (and "But I can hope that" bridges) isn't optimal for me, but I will forgive him on account of the fact that he was known to cut loose and improvise quite a bit on basslines of songs that he personally penned. Clinical, optimized refinement may be too much of an ask for every aspect of his songs.
​
Nonetheless, the harmonies that support him in the bridges and eventually the chorus (especially the choruses) fit in snugly with the overall mix - another feather in the cap of Gordon Waller, even if the instrumentation itself is not as innovative as it would be in a Brugin track.
​
There isn't too much else to say about "Romana". It's catchy, has serviceable enough lyrics, and a predictable, safe structure and arrangement. Standard Davy fare.
​
It's like eating a square meal. It's good. But unremarkable.
​
★★★☆☆