Reviews roundup – Supersuckers ~ Fernando Perdomo ~ Jay Gordon’s Blues Venom ~ Infringement ~ Cassandra’s Curse ~ Veritas Conc.75
SUPERSUCKERS
Play That Rock ‘N’ Roll
Steamhammer / SPV
You do know that the Supersuckers are the best rock and roll band in the world right now? I only ask as they’re still playing the same venues they did years back. In fact I’d be going to see them in one of my local pubs this month were I not away working. It’s shameful because you really ought to be buying their records and packing out their shows. Shame on you.
Anyway, Eddie Spaghetti and his fellow suckers are back for another go. And there is no arguing with the title. Supersuckers do indeed play that rock and roll. As power trios go this as good as it gets as they crash through a dozen tracks of, um, rock and roll. Most of which hover around the three minute mark. As all rock and roll tunes should. This time they’re singing about ladies, rock and roll and ladies who like rock and roll. So business as usual with more than a hint of depression. That would be ‘Deceptive Expectations’ and ‘Die Alone’. There’s also the reflective (for them) ‘Ain’t No Day Like Yesterday’. Although, to their credit, they still have a song called ‘Gettin’ Into Each Others Pants’. So all is well with the world.
There are riffs galore, choruses that will have you punching the air, all with the throaty vocals of Mr Spaghetti howling over the top. There are a couple of covers here. The Allen Toussaint song ‘A Certain Girl’ and a romp through one of the greatest songs Ever. Namely Michael Monroe’s ‘Dead, Jail Or Rock ‘N’ Roll’. A song that could have been written for the Supersuckers. ‘You Ain’t The Boss Of Me’ is a real highlight as they take a left turn into the world of stomping glam rock. It’s yet another excellent Supersuckers album that you really should buy. So do it.
FERNANDO PERDOMO
The Crimson Guitar
Forward Motion Records
Ever wanted to hear acoustic / classical guitar interpretations of King Crimson tunes? Of course you have.
And now is your chance. Because Fernando Perdomo has only gone and made it. He’s a busy fellow with a spate of recent solo releases as well as his duties with the likes of The Dave Kerzner Band. He’s a progger through and through and as the liner notes state, King Crimson changed his life.
You don’t have to be a KC fan to enjoy this as he’s a really accomplished guitarist, so if the whole acoustic/classical vibe is your thing then this will work for you just as well. The arrangements are those he worked out as a youngster when he was learning classical guitar. It just took 20 years of so for them to brought out into public. He also had good taste as the songs he was arranging are the good stuff. So you’re getting the likes of ‘Islands’, ‘Starless’, ‘Moonchild’ and ‘The Court of the Crimson King’. Be warned, though, they are all very brief with the album clocking in around the 25 minute mark so you will be left wanting more.
But it’s worth it.
https://fernandoperdomo.bandcamp.com
JAY GORDON’s BLUES VENOM
Slide Rules
Shuttle Music
Another title you can’t argue with as Mr Gordon lays down some stinging slide across a fine album of rockin’ blues.
I’ve encountered his music before on the semi-compilation ‘Woodchoppers Ball’. That was a fine ride and this is no exception. It’s certainly not for the faint hearted as even on the slow blues he seems to take great pleasure in trying to rip you a new one. It’s rough, ragged, powerful and a delight. He can boogie, he can shuffle, he can drag you right down there. That would be ‘Pain’. A basic power trio with no frills, it’s all about passion and energy. Oh, and being a shit hot musician.
Would the songs stand out from the crowd if anyone else performed them? I’m not sure because this is about things being a whole. A rock solid rhythm session, raw vocals and searing guitar. Of course he’s been doing this for a helluva long time now and all those years of playing have borne rich fruit. I’m naturally drawn to the wilder side so ‘Lucky 13’ and ‘Voodoo Boogie’ are real winners for me. It’s mainly originals but he finds time for (another) go at ‘Travelin’ Riverside Blues’ from the Robert Johnson songbook and (yaaassss!!) a run through the Blackfoot classic ‘Train Train’.
It’s the sound of a damn good night out brought to you. Recommended.
No new video so here’s an oldie
INFRINGEMENT
Alienism
Crime Records
Off to Norway for the second album from alternative prog outfit Infringement.
They formed back in 2015 and this is their second release following on from “Transition” back in 2017. That was a concept album which followed the story of a Norwegian family across different generations as seen through the eyes of a house. Yes, really.
This time it’s a concept album about the patients in the Gentmire Institute, a psychiatric institute as seen through the journals of the commissioner who runs the programme. As you do. Musically, there are a lot of nods back to the more melodic side of seventies prog with a few nods to the likes of mid-seventies Genesis. But there are just as many nods to the unwieldy world of the, deep breath, eighties New Wave of British Progressive Rock. But with a large dose of their own individuality and character.
They’re not messing about as there are only four tracks – ‘Disorder’, ‘Triad’, ‘Therapy’ and ‘Delerium’ with the latter clocking in at 16 minutes plus change. So there is plenty of room for them to work their way through a complex set of music. Which means they can through in some groovy bass lines without scaring away the listeners. The sound grabs you right through the headphones with a cracking production. Which may have been helped along with some mixing and mastering by Karl Groom of Threshold. It’s an interesting and at time refreshing take on prog which is certainly worth investigating
https://infringement.bandcamp.com
CASSANDRA’S CURSE
Groom Lake – Act 1
Significant Magnificence
Meanwhile over in Texas, prog band Cassandra’s Curse have released a concept album! Prog bands, eh?
It’s a more conventional theme though. Largely based around Roswell and Area 51. A fertile ground for prog bands.
It started life as a short story and there is a plot precis on the inner sleeve so you can keep track of what’s going on. Musically it’s modern prog with some Riverside, Porcupine Tree and Spock’s Beard influences. It also throws in some dialogue in the manner of a radio play and more than a few classical influences. And it works really well. They move from aggression to decorous in fine style with some good transitions. Because there is nothing worse than a clumsy tradition.
The guitar work is the real highlight here. Whether it’s riffing or laying down a melodic solo, it’s really good. It’s an indie release so the drum sound suffers a wee bit as is often the case. But it doesn’t spoil things. There are some short interludes labelled as scenes but it’s the meat of tunes like ‘Labyrinth’ that make this a record worth hearing. I’m guessing that Act 1 means there’s more to come and I’ll happily listen to a second installment.
https://www.facebook.com/cassandrascurseband/
VERITAS CONC.75
Toast To The Weekend
Captured Records
You know me. There’s not many things I enjoy more than some jamming southern meets blues rock.
Normally, you have to go to Georgia or Tennessee for a fix. But this time I’m off to the coastal region of Shonan, Kanagawa, Japan. You read that right. This is a Japanese power trio who really, really love the early seventies sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Humble Pie and Messrs Grand, Funk and Railroad.
And they’re good at it. There’s nothing fancy going on. Just a solid rhythm and plenty of searing guitar. They do like to stretch things out a bit with three of the seven tracks ending up over the eight minute mark. They could do with three minutes of editing. It probably works really well live when you’ve got a few beers in you and you’re happy just to sway along to a relentless rhythm. Less so on a record. While the band is good, the vocals struggle a bit. But as Akinori ‘Mill’ Niimi is also the excellent guitarist and songwriter I’m guessing the other two are going to fight shy of telling him that.
Oddly I probably liked the slightly weird, psych like blues rock of ‘Southerly Sea Breeze Through The Pine Trees’ best of all and that’s a direction I would happily follow them. The fact that it wanders off in an Allmans jazzy exposition probably helps. Although Dickey Betts probably wants his guitar licks back from 3:45 onwards! An interesting one.
https://veritasconc75.jimdofree.com/
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