easy listening « Rhythm & Booze

28 August, 2014

Band Of Holy Joy-A Place Called Home

Filed under: easy listening,indie,Recorded Reviews — Tags: a place called home, band of holy joy, new single — willmunn @ 10:31

Band Of Holy Joy are London based practitioners of the gutter lament, evocative chanson like ballads that bring to mind the likes of Divine Comedy or the criminally underrated Costeau, a band (that like the aforementioned) that create slow burning odes to the human condition that weave an undeniable mesmeric spell with their compelling mix instrumentation and Johny Brown’s brooding croon.

In recent times the author Irvine Welsh proclaimed Band Of Holy Joy’s album Easy Listening to be his “favourite album of the year so far” whilst the likes of Mojo, The Mirror and The Wire all agreed, with favourable reviews of the album.

Band Of Holy Joy’s follow up the acclaimed album with a brand new single, entitled A Place To Call Home, a track that explores living in the inner city and a song that also goes some way to showcase the timeless sound of the

The track is a moody provocative piece that casts a magical spell, the slow, precise structure draws the listener in, before Johny delivers that sensational darkened soulful croon, lyrically the track is captivating, original and inventive, whilst musically the instrumentation draws you in.

There are very few acts that have the same draw as Band Of Holy Joy, few can create such an atmospheric sound whilst even less have a frontman with same aching voice of Johny Brown, if you’ve not heard the band yet, I urge you track down, at the very least this single and prepare yourself to be seduced by the brooding sounds of the human condition.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.bandholyofjoy.co.uk

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31 July, 2012

Porter-Can’t Keep Still

Filed under: blues,easy listening,jazz,Recorded Reviews,ska,soul — Tags: album, can't keep still, porter — willmunn @ 12:29

Now here’s an aptly named album if ever there was one, Porter mix up a combination of jazz, blues, swing and ska to create a moving, ever infectious sound that has already seen the band support the likes of the acclaimed and Grammy nominated James Hunter among others.

Porter’s (named after frontman Gary Porter) latest album, Can’t Keep Still is one of those collections that makes you want to stop what your doing, clear a path in your living room, grab your partner and throw some shapes, or perhaps turn the lights down low and allow Gary’s smooth croon to seduce, either way there’s no way you’re going to be able to stay still, this is music to ignite passion, to incite dance, to light romance, this is an album that you can’t possibly deny.

Can’t Keep Still kicks off with the all swinging ska flavouring of Ten Days, a track that introduces you to the creamy croon of Gary Porter and the band’s ability to make you want to bounce, strut and pose all the space of three minutes. From the opening combination of horns and bass groove the band have you in the palm of their hands and don’t let go until the final few seconds of album ska friendly hammond organ fuelled closer Bridge Too Far.

Highlights ooze from the speakers every step of the way, from the elastic ska soul of Emily, with its jumping ska beat, choppy guitar and soul croon to the late 50’s styled easy listening, crooner Hanging On complete with it’s gorgeous, fluid, mournful sax solo to the laid-back reggae grooves of the slow groover, Happiest Day, with it’s warm horns and pumping piano melody and the Latin tinged River.

Can’t Keep Still is a silky smooth contagious journey through all that’s good in jazz, blues, swing and ska, if you have any affinity with those genres or just enjoy well structured, beautifully performed music and deep soulful vocals, you’ll get a real kick out of the delightfully delicious sounds of Porter.