Today we give you the ‘trademark anthemic sound; hooks, singalong melodies and strong mob chorus’ of Cock Sparrer. The Australian folk singer songwriter Jess Ribeiro, Copenhagen progressive/melodeath act Mother of All and yet another Cherry Red Compilation from the vaults of Lux and Ivy. Have a read and listen below.
Cock Sparrer – Hand On Heart
Captain Oi!
Years ago someone gave me a tape of Shock Troops and Running Riot. I played it to death and it’s still one of my go to records in the depths of my collection. So to get a new album is both daunting and exciting. I shouldn’t have worried. This is chock full of rousing drums and guitar lines, the voice is still there too, a London accent and rousing heartfelt words. It’s the sound of a bunch of blokes that have grown old together and kept doing what they want to. It’s punk, it’s about looking after others, anger at the lack of everything and how people are dying from lack of money and caring. There’s songs about family, support and being part of something bigger than you, it’s about taking what they see as punk into where they are now. Still standing tall and caring.
Jess Ribeiro – Summer of Love
Labelman
Jess’s voice is soft with a tiny roughness, it’s beautiful and full. The songs are very much built around the singing and as such are perfect. It’s a gentle, tired record measured in quiet emotions. It’s folk music but with an indie rock edge and it really does get into your brain. It’s not a happy record, most of the songs sound and feel sad, maudlin and alone. But that just makes it all the better. One to listen to when you are on the verge of something or the edge of everything.
Mother Of All – Global Parasitic Leviathan
My first musical obsession was Metal so every now and again I have the compulsion to immerse myself in guitars, drums and bass. This is just what I need right now. It’s got thunderous drums, death metal guitars, deep luscious basslines and a singer that I can understand, not screaming or growling. He sounds rough at the edges but who the hell needs perfection? It’s an immense varied slice of metal that holds my interest all the way through. Hard and cool.
LEATHER JACKETS AND DIESEL SMOKE
Chili Dippin’ In Red Tiger Shoes, Gems and Oddities from Lux and Ivy’s Vault
Cherry Red
There are dozens of these compilations lurking out there, waiting for unsuspecting punters to pick them up and get spirited away into a world of sleazy dancing, perfect quiffs, hot rod races and dangerous beautiful people. A world of rockabilly, crooning and sex. A world that inspired the best band in the world and even now, fifteen years after the Cramps maniac frontman Lux passed on, people still buy anything with his and his wife’s, the collect woman in the world, name on it. This is ace though, novelty hits rub shoulders with vintage rock’n’roll, crooning passes over to calypso and over every track is a fine slick veneer of sleazy sex. Remember what rock’n’roll meant to start with and get down and dirty.
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Cock Sparrer’s website is cocksparrer.co.uk, they are also on Facebook and Instagram.
Jess Ribeiro’s website is jessribeiro.com, she is also on Facebook, Bandcamp and Instagram.
Mother Of All’s website is motherofallofficial.com, they are also on Bandcamp, Instagram and Facebook.
Cherry Red’s website is www.cherryred.co.uk, they are also on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Adrian Bloxham
