Page 47 - BiTS_11_NOVEMBER_2024
P. 47
rock guitar riff on ‘Seventeen’ has a feel of old style seventies rock to it. ‘Stand Up’
features some harmonica from the harp maestro himself; Will Wilde. There is a
more mellow feel to ‘Insane’ with some nice guitar work with more of the same on
‘Fairy Tale’.
‘All I Can Think About’ is a little different with its nice acoustic guitar, this ballad
brought to mind the style of Bonnie Raitt, I quite liked this one. ‘Five Years On’ is a
nice foot tapping boogie underpinned with some lush Hammond sounds from Jonny
Henderson. You will find the title of the album in the lyrics on ‘Sink Or Swim’ and the
album closes out on the slower paced neatly titled ‘Stars Upon My Scars’.
I have to say from the off that this is not a blues album and that this style of rock
music is not my bag. However, I can appreciate the togetherness of this band. Donna
Peters on drums and Billy Dedman are as tight as the proverbial. Ed Clarke mixes up
his guitar tones to good effect but what really differentiates this band from the pack
is the dual vocal work of Chloe Peters and Lindsey Bonnick. Both individually and
together their vocals are first class and they work so well with their harmonies.
This album is tight, polished and well produced. Although I find some of the songs
a bit “samey”, I am sure this album will appeal to British rock fans out there so why
not go and check it out.
Ged Wilson
Eric Bibb—In the Real World—Stony Plain ASIN :
B0DD3GQP2N
Eric's new album was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real
World Studios in the West Country and produced and
arranged by Glen Scott (Craig David, Beverly Knight,
Shawn Mendes) who has also produced several of
Eric's other albums. The opening track 'Take the Stage'
is a stunning introduction, with Eric's beautiful voice
and acoustic guitar framed by superb slide guitar from
Robbie McIntosh and with Mr. Scott providing guitar,
organ, bass, drums and choir-like backing vocals. Can it get any better? 'Walk Steady
On' goes a bit country with Glen adding banjo and mandolin and with fiddle from
Esbjorn Hazelius and with Sara Bergkvist and Scott joining in on backing vocals,
while 'Everybody's Got a Right' is a typical Eric Bibb song calling for equal rights,
with Eric's vocals and guitar supported by gospel backing vocals and more slide
guitar from Mr. McIntosh. The melodic 'Best I Can' features a string quartet and the
dramatic 'This River (Chains and Free)' features both strings and more fiddle from
Esbjorn Hazelius, together with ethereal, other-worldly backing vocals.