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Final Approach To Home - Rosco Levee Album Review

Posted: 22nd March 2012
Review Info
Rating:
5 out of 5
Artist:
Release Date:
20th Feb 2012
Label:
Red Train Records
Reviewer:
Mat Radbourne

Album Review

Final Approach to Home is a vibrant, offering from Rosco Levee, a man and his band from Kent. They sing country blues, and have released a foot taper of an album that is sure to set a few hearts pulsing. It has an uncomplicated fusion of slide guitar, Hammond organ, mandolin, banjo, trumpets, violin and harmonica. - the perfect winning combination.

The theme throughout the album is one of freshness and subtlety in movement; its mellow and calm, quick and slow. The ease of playing and all round skill of these guys is quite breathtaking at times. The twelve tracks run seamlessly and it gives a hearty feeling of effortlessness. A proper festival, Saturday afternoon band.

Throughout the album, Leeves many influences appear to the forefront, you got Robert Johnson, as well as Robbie Robertson and The Band. None more so than on my favourite track on the album 97 to 3. I think this is a real stomping feel good sing along Dylanesque classicthat man was born this way. The lead guitar and boogie-woogie piano is the kind of feel good stuff I love. If you like a bit of a Mexican slant to your tunes then the chilling spaghetti western horns and maracas to Hey Lady is for you.hold tight there is a definite 60s movie soundtrack going on in there. Cinerama indeed.

Headlight Burn again gives off a boogie feel. I love the Jools Holland sound on piano and again Andy Hayes and Levees guitars are sound in texture, rawness and throttle. Old Bessie draws along the same lines. As for Levees finale When Your Gone To Ramble is a proper end of the set crescendo, full build up to and exciting banging end. Apparently, playing live this track can go on and on. Thats for me. Superb! Im itching for a Cambridge Folk Festival type event in the summer. These boys are bound to be there, if not I will demand to know why. And the promoters will have missed a real treat. Dont be caught out.

Its another one of these album reviews were I had no idea what to expect but you come through the other side altogether richer and happier. Its an easy full marks to my new favourite singer songwriter and his mates.

Mat Radbourne