“The main focus behind the new EP was to take our songs to the next level”. Reckons Neil Murdoch, Blue Nation’s mouthpiece singer/guitarist/dapper dresser and all round lovely bloke.
The problem with that type of talk is that all bands say it. They are like football managers (forgive the football talk in this – my lot have just been as limp as a 90 year old at a gang bang and half as interested), talking a good game.
Just occasionally, though, a band delivers on the big talk. Step forward Blue Nation.
It’s as clear as day from the moment that “I Feel Low” begins all this, that they have upped it. Like some cross between Tax The Heat and Broken Witt Rebels rawness, this is as good as it gets.
Working with Grammy winning producer Trevor Gibson (he’s also the one behind the Scream For Me Sarajevo” film) seems to have brought out the best in them all. The funky bass of Luke Weston ensures “Come Back Home” belongs to another time. Actually, scratch that, it belongs to any time at all. It could have come out at any point in history and fitted in.
The title track is the one, though. Big, bold, arena filling. It’s the type of thing that Kings Of Leon sell by the million and the range in Murdoch’s vocals is best underlined by the last one, “The Reason” as Oli Jefferson thunders his kit as the slow burn explodes.
I feel like a bit of a fraud, because I heard all these songs in April when they opened for Sari Schorr and wrote this line that night: “Blue Nation are ready to make their mark. After all, when you fit in nowhere, you can go anywhere you like.” And it still feels apt.
This is a band that is too good to be “Birmingham’s” Blue Nation, anymore. They deserve to belong to everyone. Get ready to watch them fly.
Rating 8.5/10
