Bone Idle Productions. 14 tracks. 58.10mins.

Neat sleeve design using the pack of cards to show track numbers. From the off I liked the style of this band who not only show they are a fine band but have fun at it too. There’s a swagger to the singer and it is clear that the band would make him swing anyway, with this kind of backing who could help themselves?

Four piece and all self-written tracks that really impress. “Somethin’ Goin’ On” sets a scene for more fine stuff to follow. “Making It Pay” follows the raucous slide of “Travellin’ Man” and charges in with chorused guitar and a funk that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and must surely be a show stopper live.

Formed in 1989 and with this settled line-up since 1997 here is a
band that are going somewhere.

“Boss Man” continues the break neck ride with pounding and compulsive bass and swelling guitar and Phil Allen pours his gritty vocal over.

Confession: I had this playing out quite loud in the car with windows open while stopped at some pedestrian lights and a couple of guys came over to ask: “who the hell is that? It’s bloody amazing!”

There is fine slide work here [on a resonator if I’m not mistaken], good songs, fine entertainment, good get your foot tapping stuff like “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and the gentleness of “Bring Me Home Again” carrying fine shades of a lilting Hendrix, then the cutting sound of “Bottle By My Side”, “Goddamn Blues” serves up some fluid guitar from the excellent Dave Robinson over the super rhythm section and Phil throws the lyric around to entertain. The album closes with the title track which ends abruptly from full flowing electric driving sound to slow acoustic and telephone mic’d vocal…thoroughly entertaining…….

Caleb
Blues Matters!
November 2004