Rebecca Downes - Believe
Been waiting for this to be released since Rebecca & her band closed the 2015 season at Sedgefield Blues Club: a good number of these new songs were the spine of the terrific set.
The album opens with echoes of Canned Heat before exploding into the powerful, rockin’ Never Gonna Learn before settling into a quieter though equally driving Night Train. Easing up only slightly, It’s That Easy is a catchy ballad before the “goosebump” number Sailing On A Pool Of Tears: puts me in mind of Sheryl Crowe, and Wow, if this song had orchestration it would be worthy of a Bond theme, certainly stomping all over more recent efforts. Giving chance to breathe, Sweetness is a tight, funky little number before Rebecca, with Rick Benton’s keyboards to the fore sucker you in with a gospel/blues segue which morphs into a hot, swinging 1000 Years. Could Not Say No sees Rebecca and the boys kicking back to Rebecca’s other weapon of choice, a smooth jazz tinged torch. Long, Long Time by contrast is a Southern blues rocker with snarling slide from Steve and honkin’ harp from guest Paul Gooderham. Keeping the pace briskly moving, Momma’s Got A Gun drives along into a jazz infused, funky Salt Winds before a 2nd slow ballad, with smooth lead guitar from guest & Blues stalwart Norman Beaker Come With Me Baby leads us to the slide driven title-track closer, Believe which builds to the album’s conclusion.
Though the essential formula hasn’t changed, this isn’t just a re-run of the previous album (Back To The Start); the band, which is also Rebecca’s road band are really, really tight, Lloyd Daker on drums and Dan Clark on bass from a crisp and supple team, layer on Rick Benton’s superb keyboards and the guitar team of Rik Sandford and Steve Birkett and you have a formidable and versatile band to match the formidable and versatile vocals of Rebecca. And once again, this showcase of an album of all originals, co-penned by Rebecca and Steve demonstrates not only the vocal power but the range and diversity of one of the best emerging singers, and bands; but there is definite progression in the song writing and cohesion in the overall sound and direction.
Never Gonna Learn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj6sPM6Bmww
1000 Years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wXSHl9oM4
Believe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2rxr7ADwAs
When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons. Why were the lemons free? What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
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