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“Featuring Mike Peloquin” it states on the front sleeve, and Mike adds plenty to the
set, with his diatonic harmonica work effective in establishing a straight blues feel (try
the swamp blues-ish ‘Feeling Better Now’), just as his horn arrangements and sax
playing are spot-on wherever they occur. Listen to the horns propelling along a
grooving number like ‘More Lows Than Highs’.
Recorded entirely at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, and using that studio’s
regular musicians - people like legendary bassist Jerry Jemmott, keyboardsman Jim
Pugh, drummer Derrick D’Mar Martin, the wonderful Kid Andersen himself of course,
and some wonderful backing vocalists - this is indeed a classy set. Chalk it up as a real
winner…
Norman Darwen
(www.andrewduncanson.com)
No King—Roadside Rhythms—No King
NKCD00001
This is the debut album from this young-ish Dutch
four-piece band, and it is very much in a classic
blues-rock vein with the opening number, ‘Wide And
Far’, a fine introduction. Particularly noteworthy is
the prominent sound of the Hammond organ
throughout the album, but none of these guys are
slouches – if you want loud, meaty, lengthy guitar
breaks (by Jelle Wunderink) and high energy
performances, this release is definitely for you.
The material is mostly recognisably blues or at least blues-based, with heavy riffing
guitar work on the likes of ‘Midnight Misery’ (a true story!), catchy and driving like
‘Spacetime Rock ‘N Roll’ (very 70s rock!) or propulsive as on ‘Down Downtown’. In
contrast, ‘Show And Tell’ is an old-school gospel-tinged blues ballad, with a
particularly fine vocal by keyboards player Sjoerd Schelvis (who also takes a fine
instrumental break) and some especially fierce guitar as the song builds to its gospel
close.
The instrumental ‘Royal Gumbo’ adds a healthy helping of funk to the mix, and ‘Ain’t
No Fool’ has a wonderful R’n’B groove, making for a fine end to an interesting and
enjoyable album. Keep an eye (and ear) out for these guys.
Norman Darwen
(www.nokingband.com)