A whole lot less frenetic than the title suggests this is a far more thoughtful and introspective version of Nottingham band Sharp Little Bones than hitherto.
Once again playing the tunes of the band’s bass guitarist Simon Paterson and featuring the sax of Tony Kofi as a guest there’s a 1970s flavour and a gravitation towards jazz-rock fusion although the style flits about a bit.
“It’s not like it’s a procession of formulaic Buggins turn soloing”: click, above for a review of earlier album Volumes I and 2 reviewed in 2023
Paul Deats on Rhodes piano and Moog synthesiser is fairly restrained – this isn’t really a relentless funky sound at all and doesn’t rely overly on boisterous riffs or metrical pyrotechnics.
Far more interesting is what Kofi does on ‘Portman Pie’ and he mainly steals the show. I feel overall the band sounds a bit too restrained. But it is credible stuff and the tunes are better than what I remember of their earlier album. ‘Woody’ Wood on drums reminds me of Get the Blessing’s Clive Deamer a bit in places as he has the same rugged style. The album was recorded at the University of Nottingham Recording Studio in July last year.
Check the band and Kofi playing ‘Sweet Bitter Crush’ at Peggy’s Skylight live in Nottingham last year. Dates coming up include Peggy’s Skylight (17 October) and The Cockpit, London (26 Oct).
The balladic side of the album particularly ‘Sweet Bitter Crush’ works best of all. For variety it would have been interesting to have had a classic jazz ballad on the album written by someone else in addition to the originals.
Photos: Martin Makowski
