Falling Red

Cumbrian outfit Falling Red is going from strength to strength ever since the band bounced onto the UK rock scene with one hell of a bang some years ago.

While the four hell-raisers are definitely a bona fide ‘We will rock your pants off’ live band (check our ‘Latest Live Reviews’ section), their albums are a fair substitute for those unable to attend a Falling Red gig (and there better be a damn’ good reason why you can’t attend).

The current release Shake The Faith is proof that Rozey, Shane, Millsy and Dave sure know what makes for a mighty slice of rockin’ party music that recalls the golden age of sleazy cock-rock – a time when bands were ‘officially’ allowed to run riot and weren’t put under restrictions by all-controlling corporations.

Here then are eight tracks that burst with killer riffs, dynamo drumbeats and an overall sound that’s slightly retro, but without giving the impression of serving up a warmed-up retro-sound. Au contraire, each track is very much a product from the ‘here and now’ era – it just sounds better than many other albums from the ‘here and now’ era. Why? Because Falling Red understand rock n’ roll enough to do it justice while at the same time, they are skilled enough to make the songs sound distinctively Falling Red. A subtle tribute to cock-rock it might be, a copycat affair it ain’t.

The opening track ‘How You Feel (On Me)’ lets rip right from the start with an ultra-fast rhythm, while the band clearly has fun with lyrics like “I close my eyes, got a picture of you, licking your lips… what can I do”. Frontman Rozey’s voice is perfectly suited to snarl, curse and generally make the words utterly believable – they’re living their songs, not just singing them.

‘Immoral Heights Of A Lowlife’ starts with a wicked instrumental intro, while the tracks’ title could well be taken from of a 70’s Russ Meyer sexploitation flick. This is sleaze-rock at its best, so an extra bottle of JD for the lads please!
‘Shake The Faith’ is a clever thing altogether, as it allows the listener his/her own interpretation of its content. It’s also a mighty kick-ass track – and that’s not suggesting the other tracks aren’t!

Really, this album is simply hellafine and comes highly recommended - so shake your purse and get the party started!