Blues Alive (Blues in Britain) web site review.
December 2002
The Idle Hands are a guitar based Rock-Blues aggregation from Chesterfield and "The Devil Makes Works" is their 13 track self-written debut. It would be more than true to say that they don't make them like this anymore. The Idle Hands are so unbelievably retro, that they'd be easily mistaken for a 70's band, bar recording quality. With a profile much in-line with the "Savoy Brown's", "Boogie Brothers", "Limelight", "Lovehunter" and "Bad Company", The Idle Hands main MO is the subscription to the three 3 R's - Raucous, Riotous and Rockin'.
Vocalist Phil Allen's delivery has much in common with Paul Rodgers and incorporates some of the vocal twists of "Magnum's" Bob Catley but bears more than a passing resemblence to David Coverdale. Based around a rock solid-rhythm section, guitarist Dave Robinson is free to wreak his own personal vengeance on guitar and even the slower-paced numbers such as "The Colour Of Love" features aggressive wah guitar fills. Standout tracks include the strident thumping, "Everyday", the title track "The Devil Makes Work" and "Should Have Known Better" which could have quite happily sat next to "Only My Soul" on Coverdale's "Northwinds".
"Judgement Day" is an acoustic fool-around similar to Purple's "Anyone’s Daughter" or James Gang "Miami Two Step". "When My Baby She Left Me" is the sole track to feature harmonica and a particularly brutal guitar spasm by Dave Robinson, a few guitar/vocal "Strange Kinda Womanism's" before being despatched by Robinson. "Goodbye" invokes the spirit of "Love In Vain" or "Wild Horses" but totally throws you with it's "flanged" intro - don't think I've heard that for about 20 years!
The outstanding track without any doubt is "Closer To The Floor", which is a stone classic, if this had been another time and place, it would have been a contract and a hit. Featuring classic Brit blues lyrics and an absolutely ferocious guitar assault by Dave Robinson. The album would appeal to anyone who liked a dash of blues with their rock and while the material is consistently good of it's style unfortunately the whole album is dwarfed by the superb "Closer."
Paul Bradbeer
Blues in Britain http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.bradbeer/