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The sound is as ever, stadium rock with a vengeance. Strong songs with years of experience
     behind them!  Want thudding bass and drums? —you’ve got it! Want searing guitar (with
     feedback)? —you’ve got it! Want all the guys singing along — Guess what —you’ve got it!

     Clearly some of this is from the archives. Tracks include a version of ‘Believe’ with vocals by

     Mandie and some really nice slide work from Robin Bibi . This is nicely paired / contrasted with
     a version of the same song featuring Gary, Kelly and  Danny.
     This one is nice stuff but suffers more than a bit with that bane of the rockers - poor diction.

     Often -too often- the lyrics are incomprehensible.

     Ian K. McKenzie






                                         Stompin’ Dave and Lucy Piper—We Can Talk In Person— Self


                                         I have no idea how many CDs Dave Allen (Stompin’ Dave) has
                                         made, I’m pretty sure he’d be hard pushed to be accurate on the
                                         number too!  He is a singularly prolific artist who over and over
                                         goes  the  extra  mile  to  deliver  an  outstanding  show  to  his
                                         audience.

                                         Dave is a skilled musician, playing guitar, fiddle, banjo and piano
                                         and as if that’s not enough, he tops it off with highly accomplished
                                         ‘flat  foot’  dancing  —  often  while  playing  one  or  more  of  his
                                         instruments.

     Lucy Piper is the daughter of the late bluesman Julian Piper who for most of his life WAS Blues
     Southwest. Lucy is no flash in the pan. She has worked hard learning the special skill required
     to be the percussionist for blues musicians.  She has learned well and is firmly in the mould of
     Sam Below, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith and Elgin Evans (Elga Edmonds).

     Here we have fifteen (told you he goes the extra mile) original tracks featuring exemplary
     performances  each  of  which  comes  with  an  added  ingredient—authenticity.  Once,  the  key
     phrase in the minds of the UK blues aficionados was the search for ‘authenticity’.  In the 1950s
     and 1960s, those declared not to be authentic were cast to the four winds. Even Muddy Waters
     was castigated for his use of an electric guitar!

     Stompin’ Dave is replete with authenticity. His music brings to mind the hokum, jug and string
     bands of yesteryear  and for me at least is a wonderful reminder of and tribute to  the pioneers
     of blues and roots music who did not follow a model, but created it from scratch.


     Get this album and sample it for yourself. It even comes with a bit of tap-dancing (a tad like
     listening to a ventriloquist on the radio). Great guitar work, fine singing and authentic lyrics
     and melodies. WONDERFUL!

     Stompin’ Dave the embodiment of authenticity! Lucy Piper BLUES drummer!

     Ian K McKenzie
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