British soul and rhythm & blues legend James Hunter whose early musical influences came from his grandmother’s collection of 78 rpm records of R`n`B and rock and roll music returns with his eleventh studio album `Off The Fence` which contains a dozen self-penned numbers.
`Two Birds One Stone` opens with a drum roll or paradiddle and has a delightful rhythmic cha cha cha or Latin vibe with lamentful reflective lyrics about accomplishing the task of destroying two lives with one thoughtless remark. The ballad like `Let Me Out Of This Love` bleeds emotion with its accompanying sweet harmonies, sorrowful organ hues and brass tinges.
`Gun Shy` for me brought to mind Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames 1964 hit `Yeh Yeh` a wonderfully upbeat reverie about being hesitant, wary or distrustful of a new love. Another meditative musing arrives in the enticing `Believe It When I See It`.
`Here and Now` is a sentimental personal ode to Hunter’s wife, Jessie and the vocals are almost honey dripped. Title track `Off The Fence` is a simple but effective number that will have all and sundry dancing along or tapping a foot at the very least.
Van the Man Morrison joins James on `Ain’t That A Trip`. The singer was introduced to the Irish legend in the early nineties and appeared on two of his albums. A soulful excursion with both vocalists slightly differing styles complementing each other with some sweet harmonica and guitar riffs added on route. If you close your eyes while listening to `One For Ripley` you could be mistaken for thinking this was an undiscovered gem from the late `King of Soul` Sam Cooke.
`Trouble Comes Calling` is delightfully retro and sounds like one of those sixties classics that occasionally pop up on the radio when you`re least expecting it while `Particular` a typical dour North East Essex turn of phrase has all the charm of a Nat King Cole fireside standard but with a rye sense of parody or satire added for good measure.
`A Sure Thing` sways along with an alluring groove before sadly this collection of tunes concludes with the soulful bluesy `Only A Fool` a number that drips heartache and pain.
As with Georgie Fame and his Blue Flames and Alan Price and the Set, James Hunter has The James Hunter Six who include Myles Weeks (double bass), Rudy Albin Petschauer (drums), Andrew Kingslow (keyboards, percussion), Michael Buckley (baritone saxophone) and Drew Vanderwinckel (tenor saxophone) who are integral is blending their talents to produce and create forty minutes of pure magic.
MOJO has previously hailed James Hunter as “The United Kingdom’s Greatest Soul Singer” and on `Off the Fence` that`s really hard to disagree with. If this fella wasn`t from Colchester, Essex but Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago or St. Louis he`d be a major league star by now. A singer songwriter who would have Jackie Wilson in heaven, Otis Redding musing while (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay send Sam Cooke and have Jimmy Reed asking Baby What You Want Me to Do.
It`s been about three years since we last heard from the GRAMMY-nominated James Hunter and with `Off the Fence` he`s back with a bang.
Rating 9/10
