Mike Peters / Rise (Eagle Records) incl. Photo If the doc had just told you you were free of cancer, you might feel justified in writing songs celebrating every breath you take, even if the results end up so cheerily positive they virtually get up and hug you. Peters is the former frontman of The Alarm, and his spiritual ecstacy grates occasionally, much as the Alarm's agit-pop won no rosettes for subtlety. But you can't help but be blown away on Peters' energy, while sometime Cult man Billy Duffy adds lashings of blistering guitar to keep the whole party rocking. Andy Robson ('Maxim') *** (Bees Knees)

Mike Peters / Rise (Eagle Records) Former Alarm man toning down the bombast (a bit) in favour of reflective Lennonisms. With a penchant for sweeping, stadium sized gestures that made Jim Kerr seem the shy. retiring type, Mike Peters spent much of the eighties trying to elevate his Rhyl band The Alarm into rock's next big thing. Despite a partisan following, the crossover never quite came off and in 1991 he quit - on stage - to go solo. This second album gathers together remnants of The Mission, The Cult and Sisters Of Mercy who whip up either an engaging acoustic strum or an electric storm which allows Peters to gaze at his navel in lyrical contemplation. David Bowie's lawyers may be interested to note that My Calling (version 98)'s chorus lifts the tune to All The Young Dudes shamelessly. Nick Duerden ('Q') ***

Mike Peters Rise (Eagle) Having knocked the Alarm on the head a few years ago, Welsh singer-songwriter Mike Peters is surging ahead with his solo career;his second album under his own name should push things along. Some of the choruses-especially on Ground Zero and Transcendental -are gloriously stirring, even if the old descending chord sequence gambit is somewhat overused, while the lyrics reflect a man seeing the world anew, so it comes as no surprise  to hear that Peters has recently recovered from lymphoma. Rise will win no awards for innovation : this is straightforward guitar rock with acoustic overtones and the odd trip-hop rhythm thrown in as a nod towards modernity. But only the stoniest heart could resist being won over by an album which is so approachable and so bursting with vitality. David Cheal (Daily Telegraph  Feb 21 1998)

Mike Peters These days it seems you can hardly move without bumping into some eighties revival artist. The Alarm frontman is the latest to emerge from the where-are-they now? file , having disbanded the oft-derided but enduringly popular band in 1991 for  a solo career that was beset with problems and illness. Now winding up his UK tour with his New Electric Band, consisting of Billy Duffy (The Cult), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy, The Mission,The Cult) on bass, Johnny Donnelly(Saw Doctors) on drums and James Stevenson (Gene Loves Jezebel) on guitar. You'd be forgiven for thinking it sounds like the makings of some washed-up loser-fest. However, early reports indicate that his forthcoming album, 'Rise', is his best solo work to date, calling to mind Neil Young and, as Peters himself says, it "lays to rest a lot of musical ghosts." Kathy Sweeney (Guardian Feb 14-20 1998)

Mike Peters Rise Since splitting The Alarm, Peters' career has been somewhat erratic, veering between acoustic anthems and ill-advised millenium blues techno-rock. However, in the wake of overcoming cancer, it seems the musical batteries have been recharged and focused too. Though still prone to hippy throwback lyrics bristling with energy, chorus hooks , fierce guitar (some courtesy of Billy Duffy), and emotional passion, Rise (Eagle) is indisputably his finest solo work. In the devotional ' You are to Me', the title track's lyrics, and the late Lennon balladry of the dreamy 'Transcendental', the Beatles references ring clear but, 'First Light' and 'High on the Hill' are 'Creep' era Radiohead, 'Ground Zero' and the 'Wasting Land' spread The Jam and 'White Noise' layers Billy Idol and Bowie over spacerock beats. Derivative sure, but definitely back on the up and up. Mike Davis (What's On Feb 1998)

Mike Peters Rise **** (4 out of 5) "The founder member of The Alarm follows an acclaimed debut with an innovatively written and arranged album further revealing a distinctive songwriting talent." - Music Week