RHYTHM OF RED
  • Reviews & Features
    • The Cadillac Three - Live At The Lexington - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Rival Sons 'Great Western Valkyrie' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Wille and The Bandits - Live Review London by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Samuel Taylor 'Some Nobody To Me' - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'On a Roll' Interview with Mikey Sorbello & Mike Miley Part 1
    • Danzig Live Review 'Not Of This World' by Lolly Hotwheels
    • 'Meet Me At The Garage, Then Let's Hit The Road' Voodoo Six - Live review by Lolly Hotwheels >
      • Little Brother Eli - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Ulysses 'Kill You Again' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • THE DOGS D’AMOUR ARE BACK - AND NOT ON THE JUICE - BY KATE THOMPSON
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle anyone? - By Michelle Nevill
    • Paul Raymond Project Album Launch - Live Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Paul Raymond Project 'Terms and Conditions Apply' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Peacocks 'Don't Ask' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Beverly McClellan 'Fear Nothing' (Tour Edition) Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Graveltones & StoneRider - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship by Michelle Nevill
    • Black Country Communion 'Afterglow' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'It's a South London Thing' Interview with The Peckham Cowboys by Michelle Nevill
    • THE METEORS - 'Doing The Lords Work' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Rival Sons 'Head Down' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Peckham Cowboys 12-Bar Club Soho - 20th June 2012
    • A Chat with Lynne Jackaman of Saint Jude. By Michelle Nevill
    • Bob Wayne 'Till The Wheels Fall Off' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Gasoline Thrill 'Burn' - Album Review by Ruth Ayris
    • The Mercy House - A Broken State of Bliss - Album Review
    • Interview with Jim Ronnie - Iron Claw by Michelle Nevill
    • Dead City Ruins - 'Midnight Killer' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons by Michelle Nevill
    • Trucker Diablo - 'The Devil Rhythm' by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with The Answer: 'Answer This' by Michelle Nevill
    • Rogue Male Interview 'First Class Male'
    • The Darkness
    • Rock of Ages Musical
    • StoneWire
  • Features & Reviews
    • Livin' out Rock 'n' Roll - The Movie. Review by Kate Thompson
    • Reuben Archers 'Personal Sin' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Tracer Shook The Tunnels of Bristol in Electrifying Style - Review by Kate Thompson
    • Tankus the Henge Storm Bristol End-of-the-World Style - Live Review by Kate Thompson
    • Translucid EP Review by Narada C
    • Win tickets to see UK rockers LEOGUN!
    • KREMATED 'Total Warfare' - Album Review by John Otway
    • Soldierfield Release Debut Video
    • BlackWolf 'Taking Root' EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Firefly's 'Cathedral For Your Ashes' Album review by Michelle Nevill
    • Saint Jude release new EP 'Ladies & Gentlemen
    • The Burning Crows are set to release debut album and you can be a part of it.
    • The Claire Cameron Band - Live Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Trick or Treat?
    • Ozone Mama NEEDS YOU!
    • The Magnetic Mind 'Maybe the Stars, Maybe the Sun' 7" Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Matchstickmen 'A Change in Season' - EP Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Howe 'Bolt From The Blue' - EP Review by Drew Davies
    • Last Bullet EP - Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Appeal: Stolen Drum Kit
    • Monument
    • Saint Jude
    • Best of 2011
    • The Mercy House
    • Voodoo Six
    • Wasted Sinners
    • Cavalar
    • Voodoo Six - Ticket Giveaway!
  • News
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Winners 2013
    • The Graveltones Announce European Tour Dates In Support Of Debut Album
    • Wille & The Bandits To Release New Single ‘Gypsy Woman’ From Forthcoming Album
    • Buffalo Summer Announce Tour Dates and Debut Music Video
    • THE GRAVELTONES: HOTLY-TIPPED LONDON ROCKERS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE
    • TOUCHSTONE TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE 'FLUX' FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘OCEANS OF TIME’
    • Leslie West to release new studio album 'Still Climbing'
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Nominations announced
    • Stephen Stills & Kenny Wayne Shepherd form blues rock supergroup "The Rides"
    • Whitesnake announce new live album "Made In Britain" / "The World Record"
    • SCHEMATA THEORY: UK METAL NEWCOMERS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
    • JUDAS PRIEST - GLOBAL CINEMA TOUR
    • Peter Frampton announces London Roundhouse Concert
    • The Graveltones release pledge campaign
    • Tracer to release new album "El Pistolero"
    • Joe Bonamassa to release "An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House"
    • VOODOO SIX ANNOUNCE IRON MAIDEN TOUR SUPPORT & NEW ALBUM
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle to Embark on Headlining UK Tour This February
    • Voodoo Six march into a new era
    • Pig Iron join Paul Raymond's Album Launch in London
    • Jeff Healey to release "As Years Go Passing By" Live CD/DVD
    • I AM I to play Download 2013
    • Rival Sons announce European & U.S/Canadian tour for 2013!
    • Caravan's 40th anniversar​y UK tour starts January 8
    • Leonard Cohen returns to the UK in 2013
    • Dog's D'amour reunite for London/Wolverhampton Shows
    • Led Zeppelin celebrate high chart position. Gig to be shown on BBC 2
    • Bettye LaVette plays London JazzCafe on Tuesday December 11
    • I AM I release new single, 'YOU'RE THE VOICE' on 10th December , also release 'EVENT HORIZON' digitally worldwide the same day.
    • UFO'S PAUL RAYMOND - NEW SOLO ALBUM RELEASE
    • AC/DC: COMPLETE CATALOGUE MADE AVAILABLE ON iTUNES // LIVE AT RIVER PLATE OUT TODAY
    • EUROPE's "Bag of Bones" UK tour starts this Wednesday!
    • DON BROCO: "THE PRIORITIES TOUR" ANNOUNCED
    • AC/DC - NEW VIDEO "You Shook Me All Night Long" and release date for 'Live At The River Plate' Album
    • BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR "TEMPER TEMPER"
    • TRACER wins "Best New Band" at Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards
    • Michael Schenker launches official "Temple of Rock Live" trailer
    • Beverly McClellan Cancels UK tours dates with Steve Vai
    • Charley Pride UK November Tour starts Friday 9th November
    • Michael Schenker announces "Temple of Rock: Live in Europe"
    • Jon Bon Jovi flies back to New York to help victims of storm
    • Europe 'Bag of Bones' UK Tour
    • Happy Halloween from Alice Cooper
    • Stuka Squadron no more!! Welcome Iron Knights!
    • Bon Jovi announce UK tour dates in 2013
    • Joe Satriani announces June 2013 UK tour and confirms new studio album
    • Thin Lizzy add Trucker Diablo as Special Guest at Belfast show in December!
    • Toto's Steve Lukather to release new solo album "Transitio​n"
    • Joe Bonamassa to make recording history at 4 London venues
    • Aerosmith New Video 'What Could Have Been Love'
    • Beverly McClellan Album Release and UK Tour with Steve Vai
    • Classic Rock Roll Of Honour announces Duff McKagan as presenter
    • Tracer confirm new album and announce new member
    • Eric Johnson returns to UK fro nationwide tour
    • Focus release new album: 'Focus X'
    • Black Country Communion's only UK gig for 2013 CANCELLED
    • Flying Colours play only UK show this Friday!
    • Black Country Communion announce only UK concert of 2013
    • Led Zeppelin Release Historic O2 Gig
    • Stuka Squadron announce release date for new album 'New Sound of War'
    • Chelle's Rock Blog is looking for writers.
    • The Reasoning announce new album release date, artwork and tour dates
    • Breaking News: LA rockers Buckcherry announce UK 2012 Tour dates
    • Want to play Download 2013?
    • Stuka Squadron - The Winter War
    • King Mob release new single to celebrate Olympics
    • Voodoo Six - Free Download of 'No Friend of Mine'
    • New Rival Sons single 'Keep on Swinging' tomorrow morning exclusively on Planet Rock
    • KISS Return to the UK and Help the Heroes
    • Mike Portnoy issues video message to fans about Adrenaline Mob’s upcoming UK & European tour
    • Trucker Diablo announced for Tennents Vital with Foo Fighters
    • Alice Cooper returns to the UK for Halloween Night of Fear III
    • Voodoo Six announce Download Festival and dates with Adrenaline Mob
    • I AM I's Debut Gig - Birmingham O2 Academy 2 Sunday 27th May
    • Wolves At The Gate to release Debut Album 'Captor' July 3rd
    • Rival Sons release new video 'Face of Light'
    • GOJIRA to release live DVD and CD: The Flesh Alive
    • Dead City Ruins release debut album and tour throughout Europe this summer
    • MOS GENERATOR 10th Anniversary Re-Issue Test Pressing to be Auctioned Off for Wounded Warrior Charity
    • Trucker Diablo added to SOS Fest & Billing Bikefest AND MTV AUSTRALIA!
    • PEEPSHOW hit London in May with The Howling
  • About Me
    • Reverbnation
  • Links
  • Published Articles
  • Reviews & Features
    • The Cadillac Three - Live At The Lexington - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Rival Sons 'Great Western Valkyrie' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Wille and The Bandits - Live Review London by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Samuel Taylor 'Some Nobody To Me' - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'On a Roll' Interview with Mikey Sorbello & Mike Miley Part 1
    • Danzig Live Review 'Not Of This World' by Lolly Hotwheels
    • 'Meet Me At The Garage, Then Let's Hit The Road' Voodoo Six - Live review by Lolly Hotwheels >
      • Little Brother Eli - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Ulysses 'Kill You Again' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • THE DOGS D’AMOUR ARE BACK - AND NOT ON THE JUICE - BY KATE THOMPSON
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle anyone? - By Michelle Nevill
    • Paul Raymond Project Album Launch - Live Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Paul Raymond Project 'Terms and Conditions Apply' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Peacocks 'Don't Ask' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Beverly McClellan 'Fear Nothing' (Tour Edition) Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Graveltones & StoneRider - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship by Michelle Nevill
    • Black Country Communion 'Afterglow' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'It's a South London Thing' Interview with The Peckham Cowboys by Michelle Nevill
    • THE METEORS - 'Doing The Lords Work' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Rival Sons 'Head Down' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Peckham Cowboys 12-Bar Club Soho - 20th June 2012
    • A Chat with Lynne Jackaman of Saint Jude. By Michelle Nevill
    • Bob Wayne 'Till The Wheels Fall Off' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Gasoline Thrill 'Burn' - Album Review by Ruth Ayris
    • The Mercy House - A Broken State of Bliss - Album Review
    • Interview with Jim Ronnie - Iron Claw by Michelle Nevill
    • Dead City Ruins - 'Midnight Killer' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons by Michelle Nevill
    • Trucker Diablo - 'The Devil Rhythm' by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with The Answer: 'Answer This' by Michelle Nevill
    • Rogue Male Interview 'First Class Male'
    • The Darkness
    • Rock of Ages Musical
    • StoneWire
  • Features & Reviews
    • Livin' out Rock 'n' Roll - The Movie. Review by Kate Thompson
    • Reuben Archers 'Personal Sin' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Tracer Shook The Tunnels of Bristol in Electrifying Style - Review by Kate Thompson
    • Tankus the Henge Storm Bristol End-of-the-World Style - Live Review by Kate Thompson
    • Translucid EP Review by Narada C
    • Win tickets to see UK rockers LEOGUN!
    • KREMATED 'Total Warfare' - Album Review by John Otway
    • Soldierfield Release Debut Video
    • BlackWolf 'Taking Root' EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Firefly's 'Cathedral For Your Ashes' Album review by Michelle Nevill
    • Saint Jude release new EP 'Ladies & Gentlemen
    • The Burning Crows are set to release debut album and you can be a part of it.
    • The Claire Cameron Band - Live Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Trick or Treat?
    • Ozone Mama NEEDS YOU!
    • The Magnetic Mind 'Maybe the Stars, Maybe the Sun' 7" Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Matchstickmen 'A Change in Season' - EP Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Howe 'Bolt From The Blue' - EP Review by Drew Davies
    • Last Bullet EP - Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Appeal: Stolen Drum Kit
    • Monument
    • Saint Jude
    • Best of 2011
    • The Mercy House
    • Voodoo Six
    • Wasted Sinners
    • Cavalar
    • Voodoo Six - Ticket Giveaway!
  • News
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Winners 2013
    • The Graveltones Announce European Tour Dates In Support Of Debut Album
    • Wille & The Bandits To Release New Single ‘Gypsy Woman’ From Forthcoming Album
    • Buffalo Summer Announce Tour Dates and Debut Music Video
    • THE GRAVELTONES: HOTLY-TIPPED LONDON ROCKERS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE
    • TOUCHSTONE TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE 'FLUX' FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘OCEANS OF TIME’
    • Leslie West to release new studio album 'Still Climbing'
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Nominations announced
    • Stephen Stills & Kenny Wayne Shepherd form blues rock supergroup "The Rides"
    • Whitesnake announce new live album "Made In Britain" / "The World Record"
    • SCHEMATA THEORY: UK METAL NEWCOMERS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
    • JUDAS PRIEST - GLOBAL CINEMA TOUR
    • Peter Frampton announces London Roundhouse Concert
    • The Graveltones release pledge campaign
    • Tracer to release new album "El Pistolero"
    • Joe Bonamassa to release "An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House"
    • VOODOO SIX ANNOUNCE IRON MAIDEN TOUR SUPPORT & NEW ALBUM
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle to Embark on Headlining UK Tour This February
    • Voodoo Six march into a new era
    • Pig Iron join Paul Raymond's Album Launch in London
    • Jeff Healey to release "As Years Go Passing By" Live CD/DVD
    • I AM I to play Download 2013
    • Rival Sons announce European & U.S/Canadian tour for 2013!
    • Caravan's 40th anniversar​y UK tour starts January 8
    • Leonard Cohen returns to the UK in 2013
    • Dog's D'amour reunite for London/Wolverhampton Shows
    • Led Zeppelin celebrate high chart position. Gig to be shown on BBC 2
    • Bettye LaVette plays London JazzCafe on Tuesday December 11
    • I AM I release new single, 'YOU'RE THE VOICE' on 10th December , also release 'EVENT HORIZON' digitally worldwide the same day.
    • UFO'S PAUL RAYMOND - NEW SOLO ALBUM RELEASE
    • AC/DC: COMPLETE CATALOGUE MADE AVAILABLE ON iTUNES // LIVE AT RIVER PLATE OUT TODAY
    • EUROPE's "Bag of Bones" UK tour starts this Wednesday!
    • DON BROCO: "THE PRIORITIES TOUR" ANNOUNCED
    • AC/DC - NEW VIDEO "You Shook Me All Night Long" and release date for 'Live At The River Plate' Album
    • BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR "TEMPER TEMPER"
    • TRACER wins "Best New Band" at Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards
    • Michael Schenker launches official "Temple of Rock Live" trailer
    • Beverly McClellan Cancels UK tours dates with Steve Vai
    • Charley Pride UK November Tour starts Friday 9th November
    • Michael Schenker announces "Temple of Rock: Live in Europe"
    • Jon Bon Jovi flies back to New York to help victims of storm
    • Europe 'Bag of Bones' UK Tour
    • Happy Halloween from Alice Cooper
    • Stuka Squadron no more!! Welcome Iron Knights!
    • Bon Jovi announce UK tour dates in 2013
    • Joe Satriani announces June 2013 UK tour and confirms new studio album
    • Thin Lizzy add Trucker Diablo as Special Guest at Belfast show in December!
    • Toto's Steve Lukather to release new solo album "Transitio​n"
    • Joe Bonamassa to make recording history at 4 London venues
    • Aerosmith New Video 'What Could Have Been Love'
    • Beverly McClellan Album Release and UK Tour with Steve Vai
    • Classic Rock Roll Of Honour announces Duff McKagan as presenter
    • Tracer confirm new album and announce new member
    • Eric Johnson returns to UK fro nationwide tour
    • Focus release new album: 'Focus X'
    • Black Country Communion's only UK gig for 2013 CANCELLED
    • Flying Colours play only UK show this Friday!
    • Black Country Communion announce only UK concert of 2013
    • Led Zeppelin Release Historic O2 Gig
    • Stuka Squadron announce release date for new album 'New Sound of War'
    • Chelle's Rock Blog is looking for writers.
    • The Reasoning announce new album release date, artwork and tour dates
    • Breaking News: LA rockers Buckcherry announce UK 2012 Tour dates
    • Want to play Download 2013?
    • Stuka Squadron - The Winter War
    • King Mob release new single to celebrate Olympics
    • Voodoo Six - Free Download of 'No Friend of Mine'
    • New Rival Sons single 'Keep on Swinging' tomorrow morning exclusively on Planet Rock
    • KISS Return to the UK and Help the Heroes
    • Mike Portnoy issues video message to fans about Adrenaline Mob’s upcoming UK & European tour
    • Trucker Diablo announced for Tennents Vital with Foo Fighters
    • Alice Cooper returns to the UK for Halloween Night of Fear III
    • Voodoo Six announce Download Festival and dates with Adrenaline Mob
    • I AM I's Debut Gig - Birmingham O2 Academy 2 Sunday 27th May
    • Wolves At The Gate to release Debut Album 'Captor' July 3rd
    • Rival Sons release new video 'Face of Light'
    • GOJIRA to release live DVD and CD: The Flesh Alive
    • Dead City Ruins release debut album and tour throughout Europe this summer
    • MOS GENERATOR 10th Anniversary Re-Issue Test Pressing to be Auctioned Off for Wounded Warrior Charity
    • Trucker Diablo added to SOS Fest & Billing Bikefest AND MTV AUSTRALIA!
    • PEEPSHOW hit London in May with The Howling
  • About Me
    • Reverbnation
  • Links
  • Published Articles

Reuben Archer’s 'Personal Sin' Album review by Lolly Hotwheels

7/18/2013

1 Comment

 
Release 19th August 2013 Toxic Arrow Records. Distribution - Cargo.
Picture
What happens when Stampede’s singer Reuben Archer (Stampede, Lautrec, Wild Horses, Lionheart) and guitarist Rob Wolverson get together to write? …. ‘Personal Sin’, that’s what. Along come a couple of other guitarists (Chris Clowsley and Vince Neades) and together they write a few more tracks and an album is born with a little help from their friends and when I say friends, I mean astounding group of people who’ve played in the best bands, most probably some of the ones you grew up with.

Dave Meniketti (Y&T),  John ‘Rhino’ Edwards (Status Quo),  Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Gary Moore, Coliseum 2, Snakecharmer). Harry James (Magnum, Thunder, Snakecharmer). Luke Morley (The Union, Thunder), Paul Quinn (Saxon), Paul Raymond (UFO, Paul Raymond Project). Derek Holt (Climax Blues Band), Rocky Newton (Lionheart, Michael Schenker Group), Kevin Riddles (Angel Witch, Tytan), Steve Holbrook (Lautrec), Chris Clowsley (Stampede). Christain Nokes (IO Earth). Chris Dyer (Ruff Kutz, Skalinskis). Paul Gooderman (The Remnants, Archer Marriott Band), Steve Graystone (Stampede). Vince Neades (Archer Marriott Band). Al Cormel (Slide Boy Roy & The Decades). Joe Blanks (The Howling, The Timics). Elizabeth Fields. Dulcie Phoenix.

I think I may need a hoover to pick up all the names I’ve dropped, but this really is an album with collaborations of the highest quality and what makes it so great is that it’s really just a collection of good mates doing what they do best…making music.

Recorded and mixed by Rob Wolverson (Stampede) and Sheena Sear. Mastered by Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden, Steve Harris). Even the album design is done by Hugh Gilmour (Pig Iron).

If you’ve fallen in to the ways of the download, you’ll be missing out on the physical copy of art work, complete with foreword from the legend that is Malcolm Dome, great photos, the ALWAYS welcomed centre fold of band montage pictures and lyrics.

RIGHT! On with the album - I’ve written about every song, as believe me there are no duds on here, but to spare you some long ass article, here’s as brief a summarisation as I can edit.

London is experiencing a heat wave, I was heading out to the garden to listen through headphones on my laptop, but then I decided to go all old school on myself and play it through a proper stereo. Oh my! The sound is SO good; the mix is warm and clear. These kinds of levels are something I’ve missed so much in modern recordings, hats off to the engineers. The bass and drums are balanced beautifully, none of this ‘forget the rhythm section, let’s turn the guitar and vocals up to full pelt’ business. No one is up to eleven. They’ve got something of content to say/play so they don’t need to shriek. Instead Reuben Archer’s Personal Sin builds breaks and harmonises with groove and precision.

Picture
Classic rock structures, atmospheric bass, dreamlike guitar licks and subtle suggestive drums lead you back in to power rock and half time endings come in the form of ‘Bulletproof’. A great beginning that grabs your attention and leaves you wanting more.

The single ‘Play My Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is being released as a double A Side with track 4 ‘Lately’ on July 22nd. Both these tracks grab you. If, like me, you can’t remember a time before you listened to Thin Lizzy and Free then I think you’ll appreciate the blend of Blues and Rock incorporated within. Whether you recognise the intro’s reference of “Mama Don’t Allow No“ from Bo Diddley’s Twisting, early Jimmy Page’s Skiffle or (as I did) from J.J Cale’s ‘Mama Don’t Like’, I think you’ll like the rocked related version that leads you in to the song. The vocals echo, almost as a voice from the past, teleporting you to now with an honest inherent reaction where your body feels the music. In particular I was tickled by Joe Blanks’ bass drum triplets and Rocky Newton’s bass levels. Of course Rob’s trills and drags on guitar simply leave you in awe. There’s a cracking video for it too.   

‘Lately’ - Think a bit Alice Cooper ‘School’s Out’, Thin Lizzy ‘Don’t Believe a Word’ and Allman Brothers ‘Jessica’ blended with lyrics we can all identify with. Old friends reverberate in your mind.

Vocally ‘Personal Sin’ is faultless and lyrically again, you can’t argue with what’s being expressed. There’s talk of old days, old friends, comment on modern culture and all with the gesture of moving on, remembering the good times and reminding us we live now and the future is ours to make the best of.

The album possesses you with thirteen tracks, taking you on a little trip away via rock, blues, flamenco a little twist of metal and a splash of almost jazz funk at certain moments. You can expect jaw dropping guitars wailing and complex runs complimented with controlled simplicity as a balance - that is a skill in itself, endings that make you say ‘Ooh yeah, that was good!’ Drum led section changes. Grooves that interrupt and wake you from getting lost in the moment for too long, power drum fills winding up and building tension. Intravenous Bass lines that just flow, keeping you alive and enthralled. Scene setting piano pieces melodically sombre and fitting, harmonica and backing vocals, always a treat. Castanets snapping and Tango stomping rhythms inspiring the matador in you, blues breaks back in to rock outros. I imagine smiling bikers tuned in to iPods as they ride on the open road to a meet (responsibly of course) at The ‘Ace Café’.

I cannot rate the level of musicianship highly enough on this album. If it was half as much fun to make as to listen to, then they must all be still smiling! Here are some of my highlights...

‘Desperation Train’ has a dragging harmonica that brings a bluesy twinkle along with the pounding you can feel the rock core building ‘til you get to the line “Riding on this desperation train”. There’s a cut to a synchronised kind of harmonic moment where everyone plays the melody of the chorus in unison, a feat that is so effective, it just gets better and better. I loved it.

‘TV Junkie’ is a bar song, evidently you wouldn’t be watching TV, but I think that’s the point. You want to hear it coming on, just so you liven up. You need to dance; you have to tap your glass and air guitar with your mates. Be prepared to duck when someone decides they want to be the drummer in your ‘air band’ or you’ll probably get a whipping at some point.

‘Shakin’ All Over ‘ is a cover (Johnny Kid & The Pirates), normally I’m not a big fan, but I’ve always loved this song, so thought ‘why the hell not!’….. OH WHAT! DRUMS!  F-ing Hell Fire!! The drummer kicks ten tones (not tonnes) of rhythm.  If you like drum machines/sequencers/ drum programs, all I’d say is get your head out of some techno geek’s ass and listen to this. If Joe Blanks doesn’t have you ‘shaking all over’ then you are dead, get thine own self to an undertakers immediately!!

This album has made my week.

You know when you’re drunk and you try to say musician and it comes out a bit like magician, but more some kind of hybrid between the two? ‘Mujician’ I think we’ve found the owners of this label.

Please put this on a stereo to hear it properly. I’ve listened to it now through headphones, laptop speakers and it’s not the same. Give it a try just for me, remind yourself how music should sound, if not this album, any cd, record or even tape, before you forget completely.  I’m off to listen to this again.

The band are as above.

Rueben Archer’s Personal Sin album is released on August 19th Toxic Arrow Records/ Cargo

1 Bulletproof
2 Play My Rock ‘n’ Roll
3 Personal Sin
4 Lately
5 Time On My Hands
6 Desperation Train
7 TV Junkie
8 Ace Café
9 Spanish Nights
10 Reuben’s Blues
11 Shakin’ All Over
12 Like A Clown
13 Sooner or Later

www.reubenarcher.com
www.toxicarrowrecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ReubenArchersPersonalSin

1 Comment
chris jones
2/1/2015 09:10:43 pm

Cracking revue of a top notch album. I've known Chris Clowsley for some years and can honestly say Ruben has pulled him to the highest level. He & Rob compliment each other superbly. Well done all. I'm looking forward to the next delight!

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