Sleazy bluesy rock n roll from Liverpool with a social conscience
The star of Black Cat Bones has been steadily on the rise throughout the last year or two, their debut EP was enough to get them the patronage of The Answer and Paul Geurin of the Quireboys, Bumblefoot of Guns n Roses and Brad Marr from Massive (who announced that “False Promises & Wasted Time” was “brilliant”).
It’s doubtful, then, with all those people singing their praises that the Liverpool reprobates give a monkey’s toss what MV thinks, but tough, cos we’ve got 350 words to write, so ‘ere goes: “Down To The River” is excellent.
The five tracker kicks in with a mighty LA Guns type riff – circa “Hollywood Vampires” – and once it’s found it’s slightly bluesy, kinda sleazy rockin’ groove, then there is no stopping it.
You can see why they have earned the plaudits they have, and in fairness you can see why they are the local support of choice up at the Liverpool Academy, because even something ostensibly as throwaway as “Lust” (“women and whiskey is all I need” and “gonna take a big legged woman to my bed tonight are just two of its lines) is shot through with a quality and a class.
The real surprise, though is “Give You The World”. Socialist sentiment isn’t something you would necessarily expect from this type of rock n roll, but when it comes it is most welcome and as a clue to who the line: “the price of everything, the value of nothing is what that bitch lift behind” is about, her name might just be Margaret and any use of Arthur Scargill in a song should always be applauded….
Things return to normal with “Devil You Know” which although its been done before, is great fun, and the title track with its mighty swampy hook and huge chorus and harmonica licks is a thrilling conclusion.
The hard rock landscape is crowded right now to say the least, you need to be good to stand out. “Down To The River” is and Black Cat Bones do. Very much worth checking out.
Rating 8/10
