As a final parting of the ways is imminent between Britain and the EU, Rhythm Bomb Records issues a brand-new compilation featuring a selection of its bands and tracks where associations with this upheaval have no direct correlations to anything political and therefore selected on a criteria of emotions only. Expect to find, therefore, songs involving anger and frustration, given the tussle between Brussels and the UK, and expressed appropriately in name and title only via such tracks from Swedish rocker Fireball Steven as ‘Thunder And Lightning’ taken from his recent and critically lauded LP. With plenty of references to decision making, the always reliable Twisted Rod spin a “had enough” yarn of a life going nowhere set to a gritty rockabilly rhythm. Furthering the tension is A. J. & the Rockin’ Trio’s equally rockin’ ‘Done Me Wrong’, and The Hoodoo Tones emotionally raw ‘Who Thinks About Me’, which happens to be the closing number on recent and magnificent album ‘Still On The Run’. ‘Farewell Britain: A Rockin’ Farewell To Britain’ is not confined to rockabilly because the listener will experience a blend of old-time blues, expertly delivered by Black Patti (‘Nagging Blues’), and then given further variations involving traditional blues and rhythm and blues with hints of fresh additions by way of Bonita & The Blues Shacks’ ‘Hottest Wings In Town’; The Jelly Roll Men (‘Come Back Home To Me’) and Cat Lee King & His Cocks’ ‘You’re The Greatest’. Deep in reflection is Little Victor where lies of a relationship plummet ‘So Blue’ to the darkest depths yet remains one of the most compelling tracks available on this album. Ending on a positive note and sounding far from twee because this is a slice of hot rockin’ blues is Sara Lee and ‘Love Is Good’. It might be farewell, but the music and its strong ties between Britain and Europe will certainly live on as demonstrated by this collection of songs.

Due to the resounding success of the Southern Bred series on the Koko Mojo imprint, the final say to this excellent series goes to a strictly limited-edition compilation featuring a selection of tracks from several states in America. With the regions of Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and the City of New Orleans featuring here, the curators of Southern Bred no doubt had tough decisions to make when compiling this list of thirty tracks considering the ten volumes previously issued. No matter as the selection of songs provides more than enough evidence that investment in this series is worth every penny of anyone’s hard-earned cash for those new to the Southern Bred albums. Interestingly and the right decision to go with is the mixture of well-known artists with the less than familiar and providing further details of what to expect if considering further investigation of the series as a whole. Opinions will no doubt differ but highlights featuring ‘The Hot Thirty Picks’ include Sonny Boy Williamson with Willie Love and ‘Too Close Together’; Howlin’ Wolf ‘Wang-Dang-Doodle’; Big Bill Broonzy and His Big Little Orchestra ‘Tomorrow’; Lloyd price and His Orchestra ‘The Chicken And The Bop’; Floyd Dixon ‘Roll Baby Roll’; Baldemar Huerta ‘El Rock De La Prison’ and Clayton Lou ‘Mary Lou’. The truth in fact is that the whole contents of Southern Bred: The Hot Thirty Picks’ is simply engaging and with numbers limited there is only one investment worth making right now.

With number one in this series already available, ‘Rockin’ Schlager Party Nr. 2’ follows quickly on its heels with another thirty-two tracks of German rock ‘n’ roll goodness. If you’re looking for something a tad different when it comes to rockin’ music, then you’ve arrived at the right destination as a whole host of German rock ‘n’ roll artists apply their skills to said genre of the 50s and 60s. As with volume one, numerous artists feature once more with Billy Sanders, Ted Herold, Peter Kraus, Ralf Bendix, in addition to some new faces such as Frank Olsen with jazz and big band influences adding to very light rock ‘n roll that is ‘Bist Du Noch Mein Baby’, or elsewhere IIIo Schieder leaning towards a pop sound with ‘Dolly Dick’ and, even more appealing, Conny Froboess providing a rather excellent version of Paul Anka’s ‘Diana’. Adding to the female ranks of strong performances during this second volume is Dany Mann and ‘Sexy Hexy’, which turns out to be a cover of ‘Stupid Cupid’. As with the first volume, there are plenty of up-tempo numbers with strong examples served by Billy Sanders’ ‘Rocky Rocky Baby’, Peter Kraus ‘Teddybär’ made famous by a certain Elvis Presley and ditto ‘Jailhouse Rock’ with Peter Kraus applying his skills to the German version ‘Hafenrock’. Like its predecessor, ‘Rockin’ Schlager Party Nr. 2’ will likely appeal to serious record collectors and those with a penchant for something “different” when it comes to rock ‘n’ roll.

The future of Terrible Love remains unclear, with truly little information surfacing from the band’s social media pages. That said, the latest breaking news concerns brand-new EP ‘Falsehoods’, issued (For the moment?) as a digital only release. The new material is welcome news, despite a clear statement from the band that the tracks are DEMOS carefully selected from a still unfinished/unreleased full-length album. With much credit owed to Sam Manville for tidying up, mixing an mastering the songs featured on ‘Falsehoods’, it is difficult to accept that these tracks are not the finished articles because the quality is of a high calibre and worthy of an official CD/vinyl release. Likely financial constraints have taken their toll here, not to mention the unprecedented times society is undergoing, but no matter as fans of post-hardcore, post-punk and alternative music in general will lap these up. Beginning with the lone-skeletal guitar chords of ‘Dose’, which soon morphs into second-track ‘Come To Harm’; that has all the feel of a demo during its opening bars, only to unfold into a thunderous, guitar-driven song with melodic passages and red-raw vocals. Whether it is an individual or agency at the centre of ‘History Will Not Be Kind’ is open to interpretation, but either way makes for compelling listening in addition to the more considered approach of the song musically. Concluding with the excellent and forceful ‘Maw’ that signposts feelings of angst concerning the unusual times society is experiencing, Terrible Love fire enough flares during ‘Falsehoods’ signalling for life to be given to this EP, which is warranted considering the quality on display and therefore persuasive enough for any suitors listening to officially release the long overdue album. Trying times indeed.

Firmly back on the saddle is Rhythm Bomb Records with latest album release by French rockabilly outfit The Hoodoo Tones. Firing up the old classic of its front cover, The Hoodoo Tones embark on a third trip packed with twelve new songs. The latest long player sees the band ‘Still On The Run’ and blending traditional rockabilly with the modern trimmings found on the rockin’ scene. Examples of such influences can be heard via ‘Train Yard Boogie’ that hints at Johnny Cash but never quite ventures on the former legend’s territory, yet you can almost hear that “train a comin’…” via The Hoodoo Tones’ bristling rhythm and chiming guitar sound. Where the Hoodoo Tones also excel is their ability to inject something a little different as heard by the verses of ‘Young Guns’, sounding thoroughly modern yet held together and making perfect sense by the glue of its choruses due to its close affiliations with rockabilly. It all makes for a compelling track, and one fearful of its aging status due to the talented young bucks waiting closely in the wings to become the next big thing on the rockin’ scene. Doing things differently appears to be The Hoodoo Tones philosophy as ‘Still On The Run’ throws up a few additional surprises such as introducing female voice of Crystal Dawn who provides a really strong presence during the chuggin’ country-light and rockabilly-heavy rhythm of ‘The Crystal’s Kick’, hotly followed by the near-country and western feel yet overwhelmingly rockabilly of ‘Another Toy’, with lyrics deploring the unfair status of one half of a seemingly doomed relationship. In fact, there isn’t much this talented three-piece cannot do as they turn their attention to rhythm and blues during ‘The Taste Of Love’, with saxophone supplied by Alex Bertein, to offering other avenues containing a bluesy rhythm topped off nicely with nasally vocal of ‘Coming Home’ to full of attitude and probably one of the coolest tracks you’re likely to hear all year ‘The Rooster Song’. What more do you want? It’s no wonder The Hoodoo Tones is on the run because they’ve clearly bagged all of the available talent and made a dash for it because all the evidence resides under the bonnet of ‘Still On The Run’ as it’s C’est magnifique!

Under the knowledge that the previous volume of ‘Southern Bred: Texas R&B Rockers’ was the last in the series, up pops another volume much to this publication’s delight. Hosting a further twenty-eight tracks, ‘Southern Bred: Texas R&B Rockers Vol.9’ continues the fine selection of its predecessors as it begins in fine fashion via Bobby Day and ‘That’s All I Want’, and concluding in equally fine manner by way of Young Jessie and ‘I Smell A Rat’. The tracks in between offer much to enthuse over and starting, in no particular order, with the likes of Floyd Dixon ‘Roll Baby Roll’, to rhythm and blues featuring much harmonica from namesake Harmonica Slim and ‘Going Back Home’, and elsewhere the improvised feel and finger pickin’ blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ ‘New York Boogie’. With Marie Adams (‘Ain’t Car Crazy’) adding to the rhythm and blues of this album, and Barbara Lynn (‘Teen Age Blues’) offering something a bit more advanced from the same genre yet still within the boundaries of its traditional foundations, there’s much to take in as far this latest volume goes. Such examples can be cited from somewhat unconventional approach of “Smokey” Hogg, who makes several appearances throughout this compilation and, most notably, during ‘Good Mornin’ Baby’ where instruments seem to overlap one another and, on occasions, sound off-kilter before finding their rhythm once more. A fascinating song. There is much to like about volume nine of ‘Southern Bred: Texas R&B Rockers’ but, most of all, it’s the fact that the series has maintained its previous momentum and continues rolling.