Singing when you're winning
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- lazarus
- Location: Kingdom of Wessex
- Posts: 4335
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Hip Route Swindon, Wiltshire
Review Rating
Posted Wed 26 Jan 2011 21:28 by lazarus.
Hip Route have always known what they are about. Their rootsy blues heart has always been big enough to accommodate liberal helpings of folk, country and even the odd dalliance with jazz not to mention quick tip of the hat to Ry Cooder. But, if that wasn’t enough their latest album, Sing Out, seems also to have room to add an occasional rock edge to the arsenal of musical weapons of choice. Even when they are not actively throwing the Southern Rock licks around, there seems to be a slightly more aggressive spirit to some of the songs. Add this to the ever present rhythmic pulse of the band, one that moves with ease between wistful lilts and full on funk outs and you have an album that not only carries on where Working On Hope left off but kicks it up a couple of notches to boot.
One of the charms of the band and something that this album only reinforces, is that no matter how far back in musical history they travel for inspiration there is nothing remotely retrospective about what they do. You may be able to spot references everywhere from depression era blues, the heyday of Motown, bluegrass, Cajun flavoured southern boogie, Nashville outlaw country and Memphis Soul, but they will only be intangible glimpses hidden behind their songs, songs that are first and foremost original and contemporary creations.
As history has proved time and again, Hip Route always manage to deliver the goods and Sing Out is no exception. Three players, twelve tracks, one brilliant album.
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