FANZEYEVIEW
HOKIE JOINT – THE MUSIC STARTS TO PLAY 2011
After the great success of their debut cd ‘The Way It Goes…Sometimes’, the band have finally delivered their second offering and folks it is well worth the wait.
I believe this is a classier offering musically than the debut, with the band showing an immense diversity of musicianship and writing which also gives way to an insight to some influences within the band’s collective members. Although all the songs are originals, the influences are there for all to hear, from East European rhythms, Rolling Stones, ZZ Top to The Doors. Quite an extreme list there you might think, but they are there to these ears anyway, none more than on the opening and title track ‘The Music Starts To Play’ a very up-tempo track with an almost ‘Cossack’ dance feel to it, ‘Watch What We Eat’ and ‘Jackie Boy’ (great harp work from Giles King), have the same musical essence about them.
‘Force Of Habit' shows another of the influences with a great Stones riff and melody all the way through it, clever lyrics about addictions on this track, another song that will get you moving and dancing about when played live or even in your living room, its an infectious groove.
The Stephen Cutmore (drums) and Fergie Fulton (bass) rhythm section are on exceptional form on this cd, none more than on the tracks ‘This Body Of Mine’ and current live set opener ‘Apologise’, some great brushwork from the afore mentioned Mr Cutmore on possibly my cd favourites ‘This Body Of Mine’ along with cd closer ‘Bang Bang’ these tracks also features some great guitar work from Joel Fisk.
‘Aeroplane’ is another live favourite that has a guitar riff Mr Gibbons would be proud of, ‘Birds In The Rafters’ is I’m led to believe about Jojo being stuck at a railway station in India for an eternity, this is another one of those tunes you will be whistling away to long after the cd is put away, its another rhythm and melody these boys have a great knack of producing.
The cd contains some of the best original songs you will hear this year by some of the finest musicians as well. Giles King proving why he is one of the best harmonica players around at this time, Joel Fisk one of the most original guitarists in the UK, showing great maturity and venture from such a young man. Jojo Burgess providing a vocal range as diverse from Tom Waits to Jim Morrison and a clever narrative and observant lyricist,'This soul of mine is a hotel and a shrine, if I loan it to you can I get it back soon, I want it when I die', fromThis Body Of Mine, 'The birds are in the rafters, the train is not around, my book I'm reading backwards, everyone is lying down' from 'Birds In The Rafters'.
Stephen Cutmore and Fergie Fulton one of the finest rhythm section partnerships in the blues genre in the UK, a partnership that lasted over 20 + years.
This release will cement Hokie Joints reputation in the UK and across Europe as one of the brightest UK live and recording bands about.
http://www.hokiejoint.co.uk/site/1/385.html
I believe this is a classier offering musically than the debut, with the band showing an immense diversity of musicianship and writing which also gives way to an insight to some influences within the band’s collective members. Although all the songs are originals, the influences are there for all to hear, from East European rhythms, Rolling Stones, ZZ Top to The Doors. Quite an extreme list there you might think, but they are there to these ears anyway, none more than on the opening and title track ‘The Music Starts To Play’ a very up-tempo track with an almost ‘Cossack’ dance feel to it, ‘Watch What We Eat’ and ‘Jackie Boy’ (great harp work from Giles King), have the same musical essence about them.
‘Force Of Habit' shows another of the influences with a great Stones riff and melody all the way through it, clever lyrics about addictions on this track, another song that will get you moving and dancing about when played live or even in your living room, its an infectious groove.
The Stephen Cutmore (drums) and Fergie Fulton (bass) rhythm section are on exceptional form on this cd, none more than on the tracks ‘This Body Of Mine’ and current live set opener ‘Apologise’, some great brushwork from the afore mentioned Mr Cutmore on possibly my cd favourites ‘This Body Of Mine’ along with cd closer ‘Bang Bang’ these tracks also features some great guitar work from Joel Fisk.
‘Aeroplane’ is another live favourite that has a guitar riff Mr Gibbons would be proud of, ‘Birds In The Rafters’ is I’m led to believe about Jojo being stuck at a railway station in India for an eternity, this is another one of those tunes you will be whistling away to long after the cd is put away, its another rhythm and melody these boys have a great knack of producing.
The cd contains some of the best original songs you will hear this year by some of the finest musicians as well. Giles King proving why he is one of the best harmonica players around at this time, Joel Fisk one of the most original guitarists in the UK, showing great maturity and venture from such a young man. Jojo Burgess providing a vocal range as diverse from Tom Waits to Jim Morrison and a clever narrative and observant lyricist,'This soul of mine is a hotel and a shrine, if I loan it to you can I get it back soon, I want it when I die', fromThis Body Of Mine, 'The birds are in the rafters, the train is not around, my book I'm reading backwards, everyone is lying down' from 'Birds In The Rafters'.
Stephen Cutmore and Fergie Fulton one of the finest rhythm section partnerships in the blues genre in the UK, a partnership that lasted over 20 + years.
This release will cement Hokie Joints reputation in the UK and across Europe as one of the brightest UK live and recording bands about.
http://www.hokiejoint.co.uk/site/1/385.html
