These days, it seems that you have to constantly reinvent the face of music in order to remain relevant; we have Dillinger Escape Plan making the sort of noise nobody has ever heard in their lives before, we have Mastodon abandoning their caustic roots to create a commercially viable album and we patiently wait for Tool to do something. But, even with this crop of exciting, genre-pushing musical excursions, we have to give credit to the AC/DCs and Motorheads of the world. They have ploughed on through the decades, never changing.
Their work has also filtered down to bands like Kylesa and Rival Sons, who pack obvious references to the past while still coming off as relevant. Blues Pills, thankfully, also exhume a sonic force that replicates the power of the old days while steering clear of copycat allegations.
Here’s how they do it. First and foremost, the tunes rock. A psychedelia-cum-blues-cum-rock extravaganza of the highest order, Blues Pills' debut is just too much fun to hate.
From the triumphant stomp of High Class Woman to the vulnerable ditty Little Sun, the multi-national quartet have nailed the tricky balance of dynamics right off the bat.
Second of all, this band's individualistic flavour shines not only in the songwriting, but in the form of their two star musicians: vocalist Elin Larsson and guitarist Dorian Sorriaux.
Larsson's vocals crackle with soul. The most obvious comparison would be Janis Joplin, but she creates a much cleaner, controlled racket that's very much her own. It only takes one listen to their Chubby Checker cover, Gypsy, to realise that Blues Pills own everything they touch.
Sorriaux's virtuosity throughout is yet another highlight. His fingers salaciously lick the strings on High Class Woman, orchestrating an intriguing solo that reeks of the old school while still sounding new, while the fuzz-laden notes of Astralplane succeed in producing more of the same. A reworked Devil Man, from the band's EP of the same name, stands out even more in the context of this album, giving off an almost Led Zeppelin stench...which is no insult, obviously.
If you're looking for an exciting, genre-bending new rock band to break down boundaries, enthral the next generation of kids and conquer the world, then maybe Blues Pills aren't for you. However, if you prefer to bask in the glory of 'The Good Old Days' then make room in your record collection and dig in. You won't be disappointed.
Blues Pills Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon July 28 2014 - LONDON St Pancras Old Church
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