The Curst Sons - You Let Me Down
(Self Released)

This is another tremendous recording from Britain's finest 'hillbilly blues' band, in fact if they were American, most people would see them as pretty much peerless; certainly their many fans already do!
I've known the Curst Sons and their music for most of the seventeen years since their inception, but I never worry that I'm going to have to review any recordings by them on which the quality has slackened, because thanks to their consistent excellence it never has, making me eternally grateful for the fact that objectivity is so easily achieved.
Willi Kerr writes most of the incredibly descriptive and poetic lyrics (publisher required to turn his lyrics into a book of poetry maybe?) and handles lead vocals and percussion, with the highly skilled Dave Simner on banjo, guitars and vocals as well as keeping their music solidly rooted whilst Tim Dunkerley on guitars, mandolin, spoons and vocals goes off at various experimental tangents! Somebody once told me you can't play slide mandolin but fairly obviously forgot to pass that information to Tim who I've seen do exactly that on numerous occasions! He and Dave work on the music that helps give Willi's lyrics their colour, always coming up with something new to maintain the listeners interest.
There are just four tracks on this e.p, which can also be purchased from their website on vinyl, and after numerous listening sessions I still can't pick a favourite but will mention a couple of the songs. Two cold days in April is a haunting highly descriptive and sad tale of lost love, with Willis's restrained vocal proving he can do more than just fire and passion. There is some tremendous guitar work from Dave and Tim as well, including the lovely haunting sound of a dobro. On Jumping flea there is a terrific banjo lead on a tale that is incredibly evocative of an old 'hillbilly' barn dance, with Willis's excellent vocals and chugging percussion working perfectly with the atmospheric banjo and Tim's mandolin. It is a cleverly constructed call and response song, with Willi's vocal making the call and the response coming from the banjo, supported by that thudding percussion. The Cursts music has always had incredible drive and power but these four songs, perhaps due to the brevity of the recording, seem to have taken on an extra dimension and impact, something I wasn't really expecting of an e.p.
If there is a fault with this recording it is that it's doesn't contain at least twelve tracks of their high quality, virtually unique 'hillbilly blues' music! There is a new (sixth) album in the works from this trio who just seem to get better and better with each recording and live performance, but for the time being this tremendous recording should help to appease and whet the appetite of their fans. It has mine.
http://thecurstsons.com/
I've known the Curst Sons and their music for most of the seventeen years since their inception, but I never worry that I'm going to have to review any recordings by them on which the quality has slackened, because thanks to their consistent excellence it never has, making me eternally grateful for the fact that objectivity is so easily achieved.
Willi Kerr writes most of the incredibly descriptive and poetic lyrics (publisher required to turn his lyrics into a book of poetry maybe?) and handles lead vocals and percussion, with the highly skilled Dave Simner on banjo, guitars and vocals as well as keeping their music solidly rooted whilst Tim Dunkerley on guitars, mandolin, spoons and vocals goes off at various experimental tangents! Somebody once told me you can't play slide mandolin but fairly obviously forgot to pass that information to Tim who I've seen do exactly that on numerous occasions! He and Dave work on the music that helps give Willi's lyrics their colour, always coming up with something new to maintain the listeners interest.
There are just four tracks on this e.p, which can also be purchased from their website on vinyl, and after numerous listening sessions I still can't pick a favourite but will mention a couple of the songs. Two cold days in April is a haunting highly descriptive and sad tale of lost love, with Willis's restrained vocal proving he can do more than just fire and passion. There is some tremendous guitar work from Dave and Tim as well, including the lovely haunting sound of a dobro. On Jumping flea there is a terrific banjo lead on a tale that is incredibly evocative of an old 'hillbilly' barn dance, with Willis's excellent vocals and chugging percussion working perfectly with the atmospheric banjo and Tim's mandolin. It is a cleverly constructed call and response song, with Willi's vocal making the call and the response coming from the banjo, supported by that thudding percussion. The Cursts music has always had incredible drive and power but these four songs, perhaps due to the brevity of the recording, seem to have taken on an extra dimension and impact, something I wasn't really expecting of an e.p.
If there is a fault with this recording it is that it's doesn't contain at least twelve tracks of their high quality, virtually unique 'hillbilly blues' music! There is a new (sixth) album in the works from this trio who just seem to get better and better with each recording and live performance, but for the time being this tremendous recording should help to appease and whet the appetite of their fans. It has mine.
http://thecurstsons.com/