Chris Rea: Hammersmith Apollo FOOL! (If You Think It’s Over). It’s never over; in fact, in 2009, there was Still So Far To Go for Chris Rea, as he released a ‘Best Of’ album of over 30 classic tracks. The smooth-as-hell, deep-voiced, seventies-era-guitar player proved he still had more in his musical tank, as he filled the Hammersmith Apollo with sounds of ‘The Santo Spirito Project’ on Thursday 4 April. This latest of his projects is his first new release in over a decade – his Santo Spirito Project is indeed a project. It consists of an elaborate three CDs and two DVDs: a brand new studio album and two bespoke feature films on DVD, written and directed by Chris Rea. The package is truly amazing, not least because he’s retailing it all for the price of a conventional CD. His DVDs are proper feature films; not in-studio documentaries, as one may imagine. Rea really took it there, dark and gritty, to narrate the history of bullfighting to a background of neo-classical and Spanish-themed gypsy music. His other feature film details a man’s journey through Florence, in search of ‘the truth’. His 2010 UK and European tour sold-out easily, with his ‘Best Of’ material and songs from memory lane. (Did anyone ever find out Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? I mean, we’ve been asking since 1978 when Chris Rea released his very first album). Anyway, no doubt that, after his illustrious 30+ year career, Chris Rea has managed to evade God’s Great Banana Skin: his latest work seems as likely as ever to reach the loving-place of his audience and long-term-loving fans. With 1989’s Road To Hell and 1991’s Auberge debuting at Number One in the UK, and 23 albums to his well-known-name, Rea has cemented himself as one of Britain’s best musicians and song-writers. Not to mention the 12 compilation albums! The blues-soft-pop-rock legend took his new sound to HMV Hammersmith Apollo on April 5 as part of his UK-wide tour. Woo! Let’s Dance, All Summer Long… On The Beach? It’s Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 41 – otherwise known as: The Road To Hell. Oh no, I Can Hear Your Heartbeat! There’s Nothing To Fear, Julia... or Josephine. Whatever your name is. I guess remembering names is God’s Great Banana Skin for me? Well, I’m Working In It. Yeah, I know, “That’s What They Always Say” – but I am! So I’m Dancing The Blues Away, On The Beach, shouting: “Bombollini”! I Don’t Know What It Is, But I Love It.