Independent (label)
14 June 2018 (released)
14 June 2018
The first time I came across Ron Sayer was as a support act to the mighty Popa Chubby down in South London’s Boom Boom room. I kept an eye on him as one of the more expressive guitarists I have seen in a while. When he started playing with Charlotte Joyce the pair seemed to make 1+1=3 and I’ve seen them a few times now.
This is their 3rd studio outing (they also have a live album ‘Live At The Little Theatre’) and they seem to be getting stronger all the time.
Charlotte Joyce has a perfect Blues/soul voice, haps of power and just exuding sexiness and matched against Sayer’s playing they create a big and powerful noise with all the best attributes of horn loaded Blues but a strong original heart to it as well.
They open with ‘Backbone’ and all of their strengths seem to be wrapped up in the song; Joyce wailing and Sayer playing a hard Telecaster edged riff against horns and a stellar rhythm section.
That is followed by ‘Hard Love’ and now you get to hear the real strength of Charlotte Joyce as she delivers soft and sultry, very much in the manner of Lydia Pense, but with an underlying passion and power. A terrific soul track and featuring one of Mr Sayer’s better guitar solos.
One of my favourite numbers is ‘Things We Used To Do’. Another slow Blues with Joyce expressing herself with real pain & passion.
Then there is the sassy & funky 'Too Much Too Soon' - just superb.
There isn’t a single ‘filler’ track here – the whole album works musically and delivers a great feeling of being in the room with the band.
One of the more enjoyable albums I have had this year and yet more proof that there is some terrific music to be found if you look deeper than the mainstream.
