Dry County Crooks LIFE, LOVE and DEATH

Dry County Crooks
Life, Love & Death
Self-Released

Wonderfully Scuzzy and Well Written Urban Insurgent Country From Portland, Oregon.

WAHAY! In another parallel musical universe; Dry County Crooks would be on Bloodshot Records or possibly Glitterhouse and be feted by the cognoscenti as torch bearers for Insurgent Country, but sadly life doesn’t work that way.
In the real world they are releasing this EP via their own channels and the ‘influencers’ in the national music press will likely pass this by in favour of some pap by an ex-member of One Direction!
Hey, ho …. let’s go!
The only thing I can criticise this release for is by not starting opening track Broken Bond with “1-2-THREE!” This is the kind bar-band Country I love; punchy and intimate at the same time with an industrial bass guitar, feisty guitar and a drummer who worships at the feet of Gene Krupa and Charlie Watts while the singer doesn’t care whether you like his voice or not; but you’d better listen to his story about his daughter going off to college in Europe … or else!
Yep, there’s definitely an Insurgent Country Twang weaving throughout all five of these powerhouse songs; but there’s an English Punk Rock versus 60’s R&B heartbeat too.
I remember seeing (I say ‘seeing’ but I was at the back of a dungeon with no ventilation with 100+ giants in front of me) the Clash with Joe Ely as support and these cats are the embodiment of that show.
As a band made up of guys old enough to know better, the songwriting here and it has to be said, the arrangements there of are 10 x better than you’d expect after the first listen; most especially on the light and shade of Picture in Time, which feels like a coiled spring ready to burst into life; but remains a beautiful, if emotionally skewed tale, well worthy of your time and money.
Sad Season follows and comes at you like a wild cat on heat! I can only imagine the looks that the Jocks will give The Dry County Crooks travelling support as they pogo and mosh as if the end of the world is booked in for midnight.
For a few days I presumed the intensely bouncy love song (of sorts) Dallas Oregon was going to be my Favourite Song here; and it will be for many, many people; but last night while driving in the dark, the finale and titular Love, Life & Death (with its 1-2-3-4 count in!) took on a while new perspective; much quieter and melodious than everything that has preceded it and sounding akin to Jon Langford singing a long forgot Waylon/Cash co-write …. and it really is that good.

It turns out it’s been 15 years between this release and the bands’ last; with a whole lot of well documented things happening in that time to various band members and not least singer and songwriter Vinny D, which all culminate in him ‘having to write and record’ these songs …. and I applaud him and the band for doing so.

Released August 26th 2023
http://thedrycountycrooks.com/

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RMHQ Radio Show ‘GUITAR EXTRAVAGANZA’ Pt2 @NovaRadioNE #Newcastle

RMHQ Radio Show
‘GUITAR EXTRAVAGANZA’ Pt2
Nova Radio NE
Newcastle
21st August 2023

When I was asked to step in last week to fill in for a presenter on holiday, I wondered if I could pick enough ‘Guitar/Rocky’ songs for a two hour show.
Once I got sat in front of the SuperComputer it soon became clear that not only could I make a quality two hour show …. there was more than enough for a second show and because I never really got past the 1970’s today …. there is enough there for a third show!
Regular readers and listeners will know that my elder brother Brian has been a huge influence on my musical tastes after filling a box with LP’s and singles he no longer played back in 1971 so with nothing better to do, he joined me in the studio, selecting most of what you can hear on the show. He still has fabulous taste btw.
Probably due to undue haste I’ve left the final few minutes of the news and weather at the beginning; so don’t worry …. the music kicks in after 3 or 4 minutes.

The Pirates	Gibson Martin Fender
Lucinda Williams	Lonely Girl
Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed	Ace of Spades
Cream	I Feel Free
Free	Mr Big
Jimi Hendrix	Voodoo Chile
Waco Brothers	Baba O’Reilly
Alejandro Escovedo	Velvet Guitar
Willie Nile	(Keep on) Rocking in the Fee World
Steve Earle	Copperhead Road
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa	Soul on Fire
Emily Duff Band	Knuckle Sandwich
Wet Willie	Keep on Smilin’
Allman Brothers	Midnight Rambler
Stone the Crows	I May Be Right, I May Be Wrong
Big Boy Bloater	Insanely Happy
Rory Gallagher	Messin’ With the Kid
Taste	What’s Going On
Samantha Fish n Jesse Dayton	Brand New Cadillac
Thin Lizzy	The Boys are Back in Town
Junco Partners	Dust My Blues
The Animals	Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Johnny Winter	Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo
Jefferson Airplane	Somebody To Love
Rolling Stones	It’s Only Rock & Roll
ZZ Top	Sharp Dressed Man
Sensational Alex Harvey Band	Delilah.

The Zombies DIFFERENT GAME – SAME PLAYERS

The Zombies
Different Game – Same Players 
Cooking Vinyl

A Distinctive and Richly Textured Sound, with Lush and Beautifully Considered Songs.

The secret when reviewing the new work of aged musical legends is always to avoid dwelling in the light of past glories.
But; it is the memory of those past triumph’s that carry our expectation of any new endeavour.
The Zombies first formed in the 1960’s in St Albans, England, by keyboardist Rod Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone, and it was their second album, “Odyssey and Oracle,” a seminal album from the 60’s; that should be on everyone’s top 10 pop records of the that decade – and that in itself is an achievement, but that was then …. Can they rise again?  

In fairness The Zombies have always impressed me.
They have achieved two almost unique positions at once – firstly  their music defines the 60’s in many ways; and their second achievement is that very few people would be able to name the group that created such timeless classics as She’s Not There and Time of The Season.
Having been on and off as a group for the last 30 years this new record sees Rod Argent once again Reunited with his muse and vocalist Colin Blunstone.  

They waste no time creating their rich textured sound, the musical settings are lush and beautifully considered, but it is the haunting truth of Blunstone’s voice that brings power to each song.
The tenor and tremble in his voice adds so much more than melody to each song, it’s a beautiful voice and Argent knows how to get the best out of it, giving breathy phrases against melodic runs that tear away at the heart (in true Zombie fashion)  

This is a mature, confident sounding record that breaks new ground moving out of the shadows of previous works to blossom a new.  

 The title track Different Game nods at this new landscape, a driving organ is pushed against a charmingly English string sections highlighting the melody. Its a great opener ‘pushing through the years‘ and blowing clear any cobwebs – laying the foundation for a wonderfully warm album. 

The Zombies were always decidedly more English, than ‘American’ than the majority of their contemporaries and this record continues a theme of English melody and setting.
Though Blunstone’s voice has aged, it still contains the unique emotional transcendence that manages to strike a chord with listeners on songs like Merry-Go-Round, Love You and the captivating single Dropped Reeling and Stupid too.
Rod Argent’s writing is a perfect vehicle on which Colin’s voice soars to new heights on You Could Be My Love.
This record manages to be modern whilst retaining a sense of familiarity  

The interplay between lyric and melody, piano chords sketching out landscapes for the voice to provide colour and shade.  

Love is the message that carries from track to track, a sense of warmth, comfort and contentment, but there is plenty of life left here too.  

“The Sun Will Rise Again’ which closes the album, is a gentle nod to the road left ahead for a band that have already covered so much ground a fitting end to an emotionally driven album.

Review by H Longsail
Released March 31st 2023
https://www.thezombiesmusic.com/

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https://thezombiesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/different-game

Little River Band ULTIMATE HITS & MASTERPIECES

Little River Band
Ultimate Hits & Masterpieces
Capitol/UMe

A Soundtrack To a Time of Fast Cars, Short Skirts, No Socks, Big Hair and …. No Worries!

WOW! This is a ‘blast from the past’ in many ways ….. not least because one of the first ‘freebies’ I ever received was a Cassette copy of their 1978 release SLEEPER CATCHER, which I got in a Goody Bag when I attended a Music Industry Fair alongside my mate who was a manager for FW Woolworth!
A lot of water and peroxide has flowed under the bridge for all of us since then; bringing us to this delightful and thoughtfully packaged release; coincidentally just in time for Christmas … isn’t that lucky?
Apart from that album 44 years ago; which I remember very little about, I know nothing about one of Australia’s foremost and groundbreaking bands, so this has been a journey of discovery.
The Triple Album/Double CD starts with an eight and a half minute opus called It’s A Long Way There and the harmonies are so lush you’d half imagine them to be sung by a host of Angels! A bit cinematic for my current liking; but once I’d took my socks off, rolled my jacket sleeves up and put my brain into Miami Vice mode I ‘got it’ and what follows made a lot more sense.
As I say I no nothing about Little River Band’s discography; so have to treat this as a whole new release; pretending it’s a soundtrack to some kind of 80’s themed Movie or TV show (cops of course!) from that period …. and doing that it’s been a bit of a blast.
I’m surprised how many of the 50+ songs stand up today; it’s almost as if the Punk Wars were all in vain.
On CD 1 Everyday of My Life, the chunkilicious It’s Not a Wonder and the atmospheric Down On the Border have quickly become RMHQ family favourites, especially when played loudish in the car on a long motorway journey recently.
On the same disc, it’s easily apparent from the strong and astute writing in You’re Driving Me Out Of My Mind (a personal favourite of Mrs Magpie it seems); the ballad Cool Change and Witchery why this band has stood the test of time.
CD 2 takes us on a slightly different journey; although the core band’s (Graeham Goble – guitar, vocals (1975–92), Glenn Shorrock – vocals (1975–82, 1987–96) Beeb Birtles – guitar, vocals (1975–83) and Derek Pellicci – drums (1975–84, 1987–98) ) still shines through, even with a variety of personnel changes including none other than John Farnham into the fold.
The difference tend to be in subject matter as much as it is the change from cinematic arrangements to something more Soft Rock …. which was a sign of the tomes of course.
Here we particularly like Broke Again, the punchy Just Say You Love Me and especially Sleepless Nights all of which would sound fabulous in either a concert hall or an arena.
The new ‘subject matter’ shines (if that’s the right word) on Don’t Let The Needle Win; which is sadly not about a tattoo addiction! There’s also a song here that amused me in a contrary way … the finely crafted Mistress Of Mine. I appreciate the sentiment and it really is a beautiful song; but how can a singer get up and sing that every night with his Missus in the audience?
I have tried desperately not to use the word ‘pretentious’ on a few songs here; but how else can you describe the wondrous Hard Life (Prelude) which precedes the Floydian Hard Life? But …. these songs were recorded decades ago and were exactly what the majority of the paying public wanted to hear ….. it didn’t do Queen or Fleetwood Mac any harm, did it?
As the songs come and go; you can hear how the band progress, in the nicest way …. which comes to the fore on Blind Eyes and I Know It (live) which must have been mind-blowing when they first came out.
With so much to choose from it’s been something of a sensory overload for me; especially as I haven’t listened to songs and albums like this in any shape or form this century.
But, I have enjoyed the whole package; not as much as Mrs Magpie it has to be said ….. so I’ve passed it over to her to select a Favourite Song …. on each disc.
On CD #1 she has chosen The Night Owls… which was a surprise, very much a ‘Big Hair’ Soft Rocker; but with hindsight I guess she was thinking of me as the main character in the song, but won’t admit it.
On CD #2 she went for the straight up Retro-Rocker Just Say That You Love Me ; another surprise from a woman full of surprises; but that’s the joy of discovering new music …. it’s always full of surprises.

Released 9th December 2022
https://reallittleriverband.com/

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Derrick Procell HELLO MOJO!

Derrick Procell
Hello Mojo
Catfood Records

Bringing Smoky, Smoochy and Soulful Songs To the Party Plus Some Tearjerkers Too.

There are many things that bring me to album for reviewing; obviously I may already know the act, sometimes my iphone does its magic; others it’s the actual artwork …. but sometimes; as in this case the album name intrigued me …. HELLO MOJO! Caught my attention as I uploaded it to the RMHQ ‘Supercomputer’ …. what could it mean?
Obviously I could have read the accompanying Press Release; but that would take the fun away …. IMHO.
So I pressed ‘play’ and sat back, coffee in hand.
Some sultry harmonica oozed out of the speakers followed by Procell’s velvety smooth baritone vocals singing Baby I’m Lost; in a way I might not have heard this century! There are far too many singers from my youth that he reminds me of; but it would be unfair to name any for you in case you would pre-judge this fabulous album.
I’m still not a lot clearer as to why the singer is welcoming his Mojo back (had he misplaced it with his glasses? Did he pawn it when times got rough?) but I’m sure glad he did.
To all intents and purposes this is a Soul Album of the finest hue; but with Classic R&B undertones; making songs like Broken Promise I Can’t Say No and the fabulous The Contender all timeless songs, but with 21st Century arrangements that will leave you glued to your seat.
Procell and producer Zac Harmon have a way of taking very average situations and turning them upside down and inside out until he’s created a song like A Tall Glass of You; which finds our hero ‘drinking to forget’ and name checking and dating the first time he drank various concoctions; until he can’t drink anymore and just needs A Tall Glass of You “and leave the bottle!”
Occasionally; and this was a case in point; I seriously wonder how, after 100 years of Popular Music in a million guises, a songwriter can up with a new ways to say ‘I love you;’ ‘I wish you loved me’ or ‘I don’t love you anymore’ ... but thankfully they can and Derrick Procell and various co-writers certainly can bring new ways and songs to the party; with Who’ll Be The Next In Line and Bittersweet Memory being both smoochy songs and tearjerkers at the same time …… think Smokey Robinson covering The Best Of Al Green on a hot and sweaty Summer night.
Just when you’re least expecting it, tucked away in the middle Procell cranks the temperature up with the title track Hello Mojo! To some extent the ‘message’ probably applies to most of us who hear it; and the call and response chorus will be a sure fire winner in the clubs.
While the accompanying Press Release mentions Motown a couple of times; and I don’t totally disagree; if they are thinking latter day Motown; but to me this sounds like Derrick Procell and Company immersed themselves in Stax and Atlantic retrospectives until 5 minutes before they went into the studio; as these songs all have a mature edge to them that Motown rarely managed.
For my Favourite Song I’ve been playing three over and over again to see which would win; Colour of An Angel is absolutely fabulous; and I may come to regret dropping it out of the race so early; but initially the title Skin In The Game grabbed my attention; and the sizzling and sultry arrangement has kept it ever since …. it’s an absolute ‘certified banger‘ as my teenage Granddaughter would say.
Which only leaves one song; the intense and sensually stifling The Contender; which probably goes ‘hand in glove’ with Hello Mojo! with our man; in best Brando stylee in ON THE WATERFRONT begging for “one more chance/Just one more shot‘ at the title/girl.
Which all comes back to my wondering where writers get their ideas from …… who in their right minds would think a songwriter in 2021/2 would be able to take inspiration from a 1954 film; albeit a Classic to describe a tumultuous love affair?
Not me; but I’m so glad Derrick Procell and co-writer/bass player Bob Trenchard have much deeper and technicolor imaginations that I’ve ever had!
If you know a Soul/R&B fan who hasn’t bought new music since their College Days and constantly grumbles “They don’t make songs and albums like they used to” ….. but a copy of HELLO MOJO! for them ….. it’ll be lighting the blue touchpaper on a firework!

Released August 1st 2022
https://www.derrickprocellmusic.com/
https://catfoodrecords.com/

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Kris Barras DEATH VALLEY PARADISE

Kris Barras Band
Death Valley Paradise
Mascot Records

British Blues Rocker Embraces His Unrestrained Darker Anthemic Stompers.

No matter that Death Valley Paradise is a much noisier and heavier weighted soundtrack than I would normally be listening to on an average day, but today this is not one of those days.

From Devon, yet perfectly serving up his own brand of American Blues Rock, Kris Barras has added an extra layer of metal around this, his 4th release.
Knowing that the frontman is an ex MMA/cage fighter was foremost in my mind as the sheer energy unleashed right from the outset knocked me sideways.
This for me conjures up an image of a caged tiger who has been pacing for an eternity and suddenly liberated. It’s a tale of surviving Lockdown frustrations and offloading pent up emotions culminating in this moment, a gigantic invitation for us all to get back out there and simply rock out. I’m in.

It makes perfect sense that this album was inspired by a single song; then broken up into fragments to create the 11 tracks, as this LP deserves to be listened to in the traditional way, from start to finish.
Each song adds a different layer to the web of Kris Barras’s confessional tales of struggles, a procession of individually intense anthems adding a massively darker amplified cloak over his Southern Rock heart.

The opener and first single Dead Horses slaps down this band’s re-invention cards firmly on the table.
It’s taken me just a few listens to fully appreciate what an effective start this is.
The new thundering drums of Billy Hammett launches us into a rush of adrenaline with deeply powerful beefed -up guitar riffs a plenty, vocals defiant and boldly telling the bleakest tale of being imprisoned in a broken relationship.

Right on its tail is Long Gone, picking up the same desperate trail of the doomed relationship. With a raucously pleasing bluesy guitar intro riff marrying perfectly with the trademark fist punching drum beat, I am lost in the drama and as for Kris Barras; there is no holding back the anger inside.

The recent single My Parade effortlessly amplifies the theatrics, the simplicity of the confident, defiantly driven killer chant hook: the drum beat begging to be thrashed out to a large crowd. The message is to choose our battle ground and it’s of little consequence if the forceful lyrics ultimately denies a bit of radio play to a song destined to be a live roof raising smash for years to come.

When we arrive at track #7 there is a half time break in the ring; as it were.
The vulnerable, softer version of the frontman oozes out with Wake Me Up When It’s Over.
This track almost made the top slot for me as it sums up, more than any other, the hell in Death Valley Kris Barras has been livin’ in.
A slower pace but still as striking: heartfelt melancholic vocals, laced with angst but breathtakingly emotional and reeling us in by the time we reach another level of playing with an exceptional and highly charged guitar solo:

“Are you stuck in this nightmare
Alone in darkness
And Climbing the walls
Someone wake me up when it’s over
Get me off this rollercoaster
Cause right now it seems my eyes can’t see a better life”

As it progresses, we are let into many more rounds of dark secrets throughout this album including the anarchic Who Needs Enemies and the more hopeful Devil You Know which examines how to turn this bleak experience into brave choices at the crossroads of life.

My favourite track purely for today has got to be These Voices.
An exquisitely catchy and manically appealing rock anthem, almost retro in feel and sweeter, more mellow vocals that still have the ability to deliver a cruel blow.
It symbolises the whole band as a unit with Kelpie Mackenzie’s thumping bass and Josiah J. Manning layering the rhythms to create a very polished track with the classic rock n roll abrupt full stop ending that leaves us begging for more. It is also poignant and deeply personal, conveying the inner mental struggles that have been overcome to get to this point.
A true fighter emerging victorious.

Timing can sometimes be everything, perhaps what I like most about this album is that it has the ability to whisk us out of our comfort zone and be transported to that live sweaty mosh pit many have been denied for too long.
They are soon to be let loose on a long-awaited UK wide tour, no stopping their advances but the real power of the Kris Barras Band is that they also enable you to close your eyes and be with them in spirit.

Review Courtesy Anita Joyce
Released 4th March 2022
https://www.krisbarrasband.com/

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Beth Hart A TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN

Beth Hart
A Tribute to Led Zeppelin
Provogue/Mascot

Blues Rock Queen Pays Homage to Some Groundbreaking Classic Songs

When it comes to choosing albums to review, I keep telling myself not to set myself ‘challenges’ – just choose things I like or at least, will probably like.
Yet, this has been a huge problem for me, as I’m a fan of Beth Hart and pretty much adore all of her albums that I’ve reviewed; but … The Led Zeppelins?
Nah!
Never got them.
I’m old enough to remember their first album being released; which I borrowed from a friend at school as I did with the next three ….. and just didn’t get ‘it;’ of course I appreciate Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones as musicians (Bonham was always overrated btw) …. but them as a band?
Nope ….. not for me.
So; what if anything could Beth Hart bring to the party to change my mind?
Things start with a note for note rendition of Whole Lotta Love; with Beth sounding exactly like Mr Plant …… down to the incredible high notes she hits; and they really do get hit!
It must be 40 years or more since I played the original; so can’t remember if the freaky speaker to speaker mix in the middle sounds is new; but it certainly sounds amazing; just like it would have done to teenagers the world over half a century ago.
I instantly recognised the intro to track #2 Kashmir; and was then pleasantly surprised to hear Beth; now using her own distinctive vocals; put a neat twist on the overtly masculine tale; and to me; makes this journey worth the ticket.
As I’m by no means a Zep fan; there are a couple of songs I didn’t know – The Crunge being the first; and although on the Heavy side, fits Beth’s dark side perfectly; although again, the masculine lyrics sung by a woman are bound to raise an eyebrow or two; even in 2022.
The mystical No Quarter Babe, is another song I’m not aux fait with; but it’s inclusion is perfect for Beth; who strangles every note within an inch of its life; then let’s go just as parody is about to come in ….. but never does.
The finale, The Rain Song is another I can’t remember, and sounds nothing like I remember from my school days; trying to understand why my friends thought Robert Plant was the Second Coming. Here Beth makes it a big production that wouldn’t be out of place on one of her ‘own’ recent albums.
Then; there are The Classics.
Obviously recording a whole album of Led Zeppelin songs was always going to be a brave career move; but including Stairway to Heaven is near madness!
Much like Whole Lotta Love; it’s very nearly a note for note copy of the original; but the kicker is Beth mirrors Plants histrionics without ever copying him; and the Folkie intro here, is rather special the way she interacts with the delicate acoustic guitar.
One of the few Zep songs I openly admit to liking is Black Dog; and to say Beth Hart does it justice is a vast understatement ….. and if she was to use this as an encore song, it will definitely bring the metaphorical house down.
Which only leaves two songs; and probably against my better judgement they are where I’m going for a Favourite Track.
There’s the medley Dancing Days/When The Levee Breaks which is as intriguing as it’s memorable with Beth and Producer Rob Cavallo putting something of her own stamp on two songs incessantly linked withy the Rock Gods that are Led Zeppelin.
The other is another straight up version of the original; but with Beth giving it her all, and a case of ‘right place-right time’ mood wise; Good Times Bad Times wins the accolade of Favourite Track; and even at RMHQ bares repeated plays.
While these songs were all cutting edge back in the day; they all still stand out as groundbreaking but have stood the test of time; and could actually point Beth Hart’s younger parts of her fan base into the direction of the original songs, and perhaps some Zep fans in hers.

Released February 25th 2022
https://www.bethhart.com/

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https://uk.mascotlabelgroup.com/collections/beth-hart

Treetop Flyers OLD HABITS

Treetop Flyers
Old Habits
Loose Music

A Soulful Brit-Rock Excursion to 1974 and Back Again via The Streets of Stoke Newington.

On this release, the Treetop Flyers (I agonised over the use of the use of “the” but the former English teacher in me; who likes the use of the definite article won) declare that they’re moving away from the West Coast US sound of prior releases, towards a more domestic/London sound. |
While that’s true in part, there’s no escaping the fact that the influences on their influences (very meta) straddle many geographical and musical boundaries.

Opener “Golden Hour” has a ramshackle Faces-type groove with hints of the Allman Brothers in there too; and all of a sudden we’re back in 1974 (but better produced and with more far more economical songwriting).
“Dancing Figurines” which follows features a wah pedal and soaring “sha-la-la” backing vocals over Ronnie Lane-alike goodness.
There’s even a bit of late Thin Lizzy doubled guitar too, which can’t be a bad thing; can it?

“100” starts off – and continues – as a soulful singalong stomper; sounding something that sounds like the house band at the Torch would have played to a touring US act like Major Lance, in the pre-punk days – plenty of enthusiasm, but with an extra gritty UK edge to the S.O.U.L.
That same soulful groove continues on “Castlewood Road” which is a tribute to where the band’s lead guitarist Laurie Sherman lives, and the accompanying video was even shot in Laurie’s house!
It’s got more of a Van Morrison vibe to the previous track in its staccato brass and soaring vocals.

“River” is more laid back, almost jazzy in tone and its liquid sax and guitar accompaniment provide a fine musical metaphor – it’s warm summer night music for the middle of December.
The title track “Old Habits” follows and straddles many musical boundaries – there’s Soul, confessional singer-songwriter piano and call and response titbits scattered throughout, which leads these ears towards more anglophile Father John Misty territory.
Which is an interesting place!

“Cool Your Jets” ups the pace – as it’s an early Slade album track writ large – no nonsense boogie, cowbell, motorbike sound effects and catchy choruses all jumping into bed with the song and everything takes off with a smooth sax solo, before a tempo change that will definitely catch you off guard.

“Out the Blue” utilises picked rhythmic guitar and shaker to evoke the Faces again, but with a smoother vocal than Rod the Mod ever managed. There’s even a bit of a psychedelic production wash too, which gives the track a bigger sound.

“Sometimes” vocally sits somewhere close to a soulful Jason Isbell – tempo and dynamic musical shifts create a deliberately jarring musical mis-en-scene, but a firm melody ties it all together.
Things close with the more downbeat “Night Choir”, dominated by vocal piano, bass and drums with occasional fills from double-tracked guitar; it fits well with the jazzier sounds earlier on the album in songs like “River” and the title track.

So, it’s a sideways step for Treetop Flyers (No “the” this time guys!) – they’ve created a soulful Brit-Rock excursion to 1974 and back again via the streets of Stoke Newington; that will be the perfect soundtrack for warm summer nights and dark winter ones too.

Released December 3rd 2021
https://www.facebook.com/TreetopFlyersBand

Review by Nick Barber

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Five Points Gang WANTED

Five Points Gang
Wanted
Lunaria Records

21st Century Progressive Blues Experiment Siphoned Through, London, Texas and Chicago.

As we well know; you can’t please all of the people, all of the time hence our Bluesoligist Extraordinaire Jack Kidd returned this album to base, citing that ‘it was too noisy‘.
I on the other hand pressed ‘play’ one night in the car after a particularly venomous day at work; only to find myself turning the volume to the right three times!
I’ve played it 4 or 5 times now and can certainly see why it might not appeal to Jack; but hey ….. this is the Blues; in fact who or what actually defines what exactly is The Blues anymore?
For me it’s always been a fast moving lava flow adding and subtracting along the way.
Which is where Brit’ trio Five Points Gang come into the equation; they certainly sit in the Blues camp; but on the Heavy; and possibly even what we used to call Progressive Rock (NOT Prog!!!) arena and what they do; they do exceptionally well.
They throw down the metaphorical gauntlet straight away; with How Long; written just after George Floyd was murdered and contains the punchline; ‘How long to equality‘; which sort of takes off from where the legendary Free ended, without ever battering you over the head with any ‘message’ you are left to make your own decisions.
Grizzly yet fluid guitar aligned to drum and bass that are straight out of a British Steel factory and in the exotically monikered singer Joe Pearson; someone who appears to sing as if his very life depends on it.
I’m in for a million!
Apparently they have already released a Live album; but this is their actual debut album; and in my humble opinion they have certainly spent their formative years honing their craft; as all 13 tracks here are fully formed without an ounce of filler anywhere.
I will tell you how good these kids are; as I hadn’t read the Press Release before playing the album I had not a single inkling that they were British; yet when I know that they couldn’t be from anywhere else!
You see they deftly mix up both Chicago and Texas style Blues with ease and dare I say it; grace.
There are slight nods to Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan in All Points Bulletin, Let’s Stay Together and probably The Secret too; but it’;s a homage if anything and certainly not plagiarism, as these songs are purely Five Points Gang deluxe.
Not everything here is of the fire and brimstone ilk; with the band ‘slowing things down and getting funky’ on the rather beautiful All She Said, I See You Now and What Kind of Man which features some of the sweetest Rock guitar licks I’ve heard in a long time; subtle and silvery too.
What I particularly like here is the songwriting; it’s quite mature as it deals with relationships in all their ragged glory (finale I See You Now being a great example); and they still manage to treat their lovers as equals and even betters; thankfully not strutting any kind of macho nonsense we used to hear in Blues Rock; which hasn’t aged well, has it?
The songwriting is imaginative too, using imaginative metaphors to supplement actual memories (I guess and hope) on Love By The Gun and the funky-ass Made Man; which also feature judicious use of a wah-wah pedal ……. Dear Lord that takes me back to my teenage days; getting excited seeing a guitarist fannying about with a series of effects pedals.
As I said earlier Five Points Gang are British to the core; yet are so obviously influenced by America; which sort of brings me around to choosing a Favourite Song here. Like so many albums this decade bands no longer feel the need to write and record a Hit Single; so feel free to just write from the heart and hope someone out there will like the end result; which I obviously do; with two songs that captured my heart and imagination that first fateful night.

Track #2, All in All was the song I turned the dial up to 9 for …… and even if I hadn’t the car would have still been a’ Rockin’ ….. man does this song RAWK! Pearson’s guitar and vocals actually sound as if they are one; and Dinho Barral’s bass playing throughout manages to be both subtle and powerful at the same time; something both Andy Fraser and Jack Bruce would have been proud of; and they are both complemented by drumming from Gaet Allard that is meticulous and ghostly too. Trust me; if you ever hear this track on the radio you will presume it’s a lost Classic from one of your favourite bands; but you can’t remember who.
Even with that great song here; I’m going slightly left of centre for my actual Favourite; starting slow and sleazy then building and building to a crescendo; The Only One; a sad tale of loving, losing and partial redemption (this is a Blues album after all) somehow blends pieces of Free and SRV with Nirvana and Pearl Jam to create a whole new musical experience for this particular listener.
I understand why Jack didn’t like this album; and on a sunny afternoon when I was in a good mood I wouldn’t have either; but I wasn’t and Five Points Gang where just the thing I needed to blast away my own blues and replace them with yer actual Blues of the highest calbre; congratulations all around chaps.

PS I see the band have some gigs and Festivals arranged for October and April; with none being near to me ……. but I see that they are playing the legendary Whistlebinkies and Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on consecutive nights ….. only a cheap train ride away and I can only imagine the sweat running down the walls!

Released September 24th 2021
https://fivepointsgang.com/

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LUNARIA RECORDS https://lunariarecords.com/five-points-gang/

Michael Armstrong OJAI

Michael Armstrong
Ojai
Self-Released

Buying Thrills on Ventura Highway and The M25.

I don’t think it affected my initial opinion of this album; but Michael Armstrong is an integral part of a Publicity Company who send me quite a few of the albums I review (and you read); that said; he’s not my usual contact so I’m not totally compromised.
One thing you must know in advance is that Ojai is pronounced OH-HI …… I don’t know why; but I think it’s an important detail.
The music though needs no such interpretation ……. straight from opening track Each Others Eyes you know you are in for a classy Summertime treat, be that driving down Ventura Highway in a rag top, an Autobahn in a high spec Merc or around the M25 on a rainy Tuesday in your van; as there are plenty of echoes of West Coast Soft Rock (NOT Yacht Rock that the Press Release claims!) that excitingly filled the airwaves in the 80’s and 90’s (and again today on Gold/Hits DAB Radio stations today).
Armstrong has a super-smooth yet still expressive voice; insightful and intricate songs and stories, plus the band that sounds like they are all at the top of their game.
The second song in, Kirkwall, is very much in the same vein; but the lyrics and story are quintessentially British or to be more precise, Scottish …… which is quite some juxtaposition; but goes to show how great music knows no borders.
While I quite liked this as ‘background music’ for a couple of plays; the penny finally dropped during the quirkilly title Fandy Cappuccino ……… Armstrong’s clear annunciation, clever songs and even cleverer arrangements are straight out of the Steely Dan playbook ….. harmonies, guitar, sizzling saxophone and all!
With that in mind My Baby Blues, TV Blues and best of all, the title track Ojai all take on a whole new perspective and importance ….. with all being able to become earworms days later.
It’s not often I think of the albums I review as being ‘fun’ but that’s the overall sensation this album left me with; the perfect accompaniment for a sunny day, be that in the garden or the car.
Don’t make the mistake though that these songs are frivolous; far from it especially the razor sharp and pithy Facebook Fame; and the punchy finale The Lockdown quickly put paid to that lazy theory; even the first time you hear them …… and by the third you will find yourself biting your lip with anxiety.
Any or all of these songs will be a Favourite on a given day; as plenty are catchy enough for Radio Play; but me being me I’m pointing you towards the windswept Matters of Heart and the beautiful and dark Ordinary Woman; a tale of unrequited love; as my oblique choices of Favourite Track.
Michael Armstrong has created a very ‘grown up’ and mature album here; much like early Steely Dan (The Beach Boys and Barenaked Ladies too, who may have influenced part of the writing process?) that should appeal to all ages; if they only get the chance to hear it.

Released June 25th 2021
https://www.michaelarmstrongmusic.co.uk/

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