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gg
Nov 2017 - p.14
Verdict:
Debut EP 'Nothing To Lose Blues'
from Kidderminster based Dharma Bums
arguably inspired by the 1958 novel of the same
name by author Jack Kerouac. Recorded at
Serious Studios in Stourport and mastered at
Abbey Road. That's all the dressing out the way
now what does it sound like? Tracks such as "I
Don't Know Why" combine a healthy mix of what
I'd consider a flavour of Louis Jordan's Tympany
Five mixed with continental European post
WW2 jazz but I'm no real expert on swing, jazz
or bebop. Highlights include traditional country
blues western tanked 'Balled Of El Chivato' with
some wonderful banjo and guitar work and title
track 'Nothing To Lose Blues' which has such an
authentic old West blues feel you can safely
whistle dixie to it. Dharma Bums have an
incredible vintage sound and I totally
recommend you book them for 40's weekends
and big blues and jazz festivals as they are the
real deal.
EP:
Nothing To Lose Blues
www
facebook com/dharmabumsuk
Reviewed by NICK
J
TOWNSEND
Verdict:
Excellent. Title track 'Once Upon A
Time I Had The Blues' is an instant head turner
on this brand new release from Staffordshire
singer songwriter Paul Gooderham and it just
bleeds the blues. This remarkable 13 track
album is chocker block with special guest
appearances and behaves like a who's who in
blues, swing and jazz talent; It would fill this
entire review just crediting all the musicians
involved. Highlights are the up-tempo and
wonderful happy-to-be miserable sounding
'Bitter, Twisted And Broken', blues rock stomp 'A
Day Like Today' accompanied with some
awesome slide guitar by Steve Birkett, working
man friendly indie folk 'Titanic Blues' with it's sea
faring flare and finally the modern day jazz blues
swinging 'We Go Out With As Much As We
Came In' which lyrically is a marvel. Paul really
has a fine album here and if you do have a
passion for the blues then you won't be
disappointed.
Album:
Once Upon A Time I
Had The Blues
Available on
iTunes Apple and
Spotify
PAUL GOODERHAM
ep
month
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DHARMA BUMS
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