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Ivy Gold — Six Dusty Winds — Golden Ivy records

Six Dusty Winds is the new album from Ivy Gold, a multinational
five piece band. The album opens with ‘Face of Deceit’ a rock
tune with a guitar solo that is Joe Bonamassa like. ‘This is My
Time’ brings more big rock sounds with hints of Bon Jovi and
Rainbow, whilst ‘Retribution’ slows down the pace featuring
some nice Jon Lord style organ. There is some lovely bass work
going down on ‘Believe’ which really has a funky edge.

The band is made up of Tal Bergman on drums and Kevin Moore
on bass who together really hold things down. Anders Olinder is
on keys whilst Sebastian Eder is on guitar duties. Manou is the
lead vocalist and has a style more akin to rock than blues and at times bordering metal.

The title track ‘Six Dusty Winds’ is sort of a rock anthem that wouldn’t be out of place in a big
arena. ‘Suspicion’ is a bit more bluesy and brought to mind Kinsey Report. The album closes with
‘Born Again’ another powerful rock number.

Ivy Gold are a very tight band and all the band members are experienced highly skilled musicians.
The album has been well produced by Sebastian Eder but this is not a blues album. If you think of

say King King who have morphed into a rock band but still have their blues roots, Ivy Gold are a
rock band without blues roots and as such haven’t quite found their place just yet.

Ged Wilson

The James Oliver Band — Goofin’ Around — The Last Music Co.

James Oliver first came to my attention a while back via the
Tenby Blues Festival with his band; Glas. Since then he has

taken great strides putting in the gigs, collecting the ‘Emerging
Artist of the Year’ at the UK Blues Awards 2020 and forming The
James Oliver Band. ‘Goofin’ Around’ is a five track EP.

‘Welsh Rockin’ Blues’ opens this album and smacks you right in
face with some awesome guitar work. ‘The Chicken and the Duck’
is more of a Blues Boogie with hints of Chuck Berry and some
nice harp work in there too.

The title track ‘Goofin’ Around’ a Bill Haley cover which is played to perfection including a nice
drum break. ‘The Only Thing I Lack is a Cadillac’ is a fun bit of rockabilly with some nice Jerry Lee

Lewis style piano thrown in for good measure.

The album closes with ‘Ty Coch’, meaning red house, which has that famous ‘Red House’ guitar
intro and the line, ‘there’s a red house up the Rhondda’ which is a killer! James Oliver shows he’s no
slouch either when it comes to ripping up a slow blues being able to alter his tone and vibrato to
suit.

The band consists of James Oliver on guitar, Ollie Harding on drums, Patrick Farrell on bass and
Billy Lee Williams on piano and harmonica. The band are tight and have a great sound.