CD review
A REVIEW of the latest CD release by The Men They Couldn't Hang - Devil on the Wind.
SIX years after their last studio album this latest release coincides nicely with the band's 25th anniversary.
Originally they got together as penniless buskers, way back in 1984, and they played their first show by accident and as a laugh.
The resulting journey has been a hard slog along a sometimes rocky road.
Former contemporaries of The Pogues they have remained true to the punk spirit – blending snatches of folk, country and rock into the mix – and in recent years have retained a cult fanatical following.
Kicking off with the rousing title track it appears that it has been well worth the six year wait. Brim full of swirling Middle Eastern fiddle riffs, banjos and a foot stomping rhythm section. You can almost feel the desert grit between your teeth.
Whitby even gets a name check in the atmospheric Paul Simmonds composition, The Ragged Shoreline, which pays tribute to the national treasure that is our coastline. I have to admit that I felt a little homesick when they got to the Tyne.
Apart from the two opening tracks already mentioned standout tracks include the raucous The Beast of Brechfa, Reservoir, A Real Rain Coming and Hard To Find.
I liked the band's last album – The Cherry Red Jukebox – but, on reflection, it sounded a little disjointed with no real focus. But listening to this latest offering it feels like they have found their way. It was reminiscent to earlier albums such as Silvertown and The Domino Club.
Regarded by some as one of the best kept secrets of British music scene this would be a good starting point if you are not familiar with the band. And now they have a major distribution deal you can pick it up in the Scarborough branch of HMV.
It will be interesting to see how it translates to a series of live gigs during August and September.
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 25 May 2012
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