PULSE - music and more, with Simon Donohue

"YOU'RE never too old to rock 'n' roll," says Lorane bassist Steve Charnley, tongue firmly tucked in cheek.

Yes, they may boast about 10 years musical experience each, but the predominantly Blackburn-based 20 and 30 something band are certainly not Zimmer Frame material.

And besides, Lorane, an imaginary muse dreamt up in the mists of some drunken evening, is only two years old.

The band is made up of lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist Sean Doyle, lead guitarist and keyboard player Franz Korda, bass and backing vocals Steve Charnley and drums and percussion Trevor Boggis.

Steve and Fran met way back at St Edmund's School in Blackburn and have been friends with Sean for as long as any of them can remember.

Trevor, who lives in Preston, has been part of the circle since the birth of Lorane, a name they decided on because it was simple and easy to remember.

Local music fans might just remember Lorane as three quarters of Clock, a group who became quite well known on the East Lancashire music scene. As Lorane they have also toured the pubs and clubs and are now set to release their debut album, Pens On Chains, on Monday.

"The album is a mixed bag," said Steve.

"We incorporated a brass section, trombone, trumpet and saxophone on some tracks.

"There are synthesized strings on quite a lot of works.

"I think there is quite a nice range of moods."

"Some tracks are rearranged from the Clock days and the most recent tracks have been written as a result of Sean's acoustic guitar playing."

The self-financed album was recorded over nine months at the Shamrock Studios in Balderstone and is being sold at Reidy's, Penny Street, Blackburn, for the bargain price of £5.99.

Most songs were written by Sean and Franz and are largely on the theme of "general life".

Steve, who returned to music after eight years when Sean was looking for a bass player, adds: "Sean recently started playing acoustic guitar which we think gives it that extra slant.

"It's very catchy. It is very hard to say what style our music is.

"Our influences range from the rock guitar playing of Satriani through to the Manic Street Preachers and Simply Red.

"It is the chemistry which we think makes it work."

Lorane appear at Blakey's, Blackburn, on February 2. They are included on the Shamrock Studio website which can be seen at: http:// www.wavenet.co.uk/users/shamrock/

Salt's busy new year

SALT Of The Earth are set for a stunning 1998 after winning a national competition run by The Band magazine.

Here are a few of the things the East Lancashire band have planned in the early part of the year: The single Amazing Individual has been bought by the Canary Wharf based Chilly Video company for a snowboarding film which is expected to sell thousands of copies across Europe.

The band this week performed for the cameras at the Granada television studios in Manchester. They played their forthcoming single Let Me Breathe and it should be shown the Granada Tonight programme within the next seven days.

Manager Alan Parker believes their chance of superstardom now hangs on the success of the single Let Me Breathe and the EP on which it will appear.

Salt Of The Earth will be recording the four-track release at Peter Gabriel's Bath-based studio between January 16 and 23. The EP is to be released on Gecko Records in March.

Pendle fans will be able to catch what will be a rare glimpse of the group when they appear at the Rafters Club in Earby on January 24. The night is expected to be filmed for a documentary which could be shown on satellite television across the world. Meanwhile, Alan says the band will not be playing more than a few gigs in East Lancashire this year. He said: "There will possibly be two or three, including the Rafters gig, and then we will probably return to play in November."

THE Itch have thanked the legion of fans who joined them in London for a gig at the 100 Club on January 2.

Lead singer Pat Gallagher said: "Thanks to all the people who came down, it was brilliant."

The Accrington band took the venue by storm and now hope to return to play later in the year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.