A well-played, Bluesy Rock album that you should sniff out if you like those classy, early 1970's Rock bands.
A good selection of Blues from this youthful U.K. outfit continues to confirm that, with the likes of Aynsley Lister, Joanne Shaw Taylor and Oli Brown, the Blues is still coursing through the British veins.
Claiming to be Progressive, it's Progressive in the way those U.K. artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s were taking and working with the Blues so you could argue in 2015 whether or not that constitutes being Progressive. But label quibbles aside, this is an assured record with some lovely playing throughout.
It's a trio based around the brothers Andrew (on guitar and vocals) and Jamie Pipe (on keyboards) with Nick Colman on the drums. To their credit they manage to create a sound where you don't miss the bass. There's a definite Eric Clapton vibe on 'Silverbird', both in the tone of the guitar and Andrew Pipe's vocals. There is also a suggestion that they have taken notice of Joe Bonamassa as 'Reflections' has his rich Blues meets Rock approach. 'Commotion' taps into an early Santana feel which is welcome and 'Home Tonight' has a laid back J.J. Cale vocal over more Clapton-esque tones. 'I Can't Slow Down' adds a grittier Texan riff with organ spurges.
The riffs are firm but melodic across the disc and there's some glorious soloing which is the album's strength; Andrew Pipe has twice been a finalist for the British Blues Award and you can hear why here. Indeed the songs tend to really take off once the verse and chorus has been dispensed with and the band can get down to instrumental interplay. Andrew Pipe's vocals are fine but the choral hooks are quite low key.
At nine tracks it's quite short considering one track is revisited in an alternate instrumental way. It's not by any means "mental" but it is definitely a well-played, Bluesy Rock album that you should sniff out if you like those classy, early 1970's Rock bands.
Duncan Jamieson
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