Album Review: Jimmy Regal and The Royals Deliver a Fresh, Genre-Bending Twist on Modern Blues with 'Snap Back'
"Taking the traditional sounds of the blues and giving it a fresh twist... Jimmy Regal and The Royals have continued to make their mark on the modern blues genre."
Words: David Weddle
Whether you are a long-time fan or hearing their name for the first time, one listen to the brand-new album from South London blues trio Jimmy Regal and The Royals will leave you wanting more. Taking the traditional sounds of the blues and giving it a fresh twist, taking influences from Africa, America and beyond. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the new album is a celebration of the band's willingness to explore new sounds and create something quite unique.
Opening the album is the heavy blues infused 'Don't Know Diddley' with the classic blues sound and a lusciously nostalgic guitar duel part way through and the call and response, back and forth of "Hey Bo Diddley"" Whose Bo Diddley?" makes this the perfect track to get the crowd involved with when it is played live. A fitting tribute to a real legend.
There are some great moments on the album, title track and single 'Snap Back', a song that wastes no time getting going, kicking off with a drum fill that signals the band's intent. This is not a chill out album, this is a record that is designed to get you moving and that it does extremely well. Joff's Harmonica solo on this one is a little nugget of solid gold. The song is incredibly catchy, lyrics "One more once, one more twice." have been stuck in my head since the first listen.
Their storytelling gets a chance to shine while making the mundane subject of a flat battery something to get your feet moving to with 'Flat Battery Blues'. A song that has a beat that is impossible to ignore thanks to Sammy Samuel's nifty drum work.
The band have previously worked with Senegalese artist Diabel Cissokho and they proudly credit that collaboration and the music of West Africa as the influence for the stunning 'Disconnect'. Featuring Burkina Faso musician Seydou on djembe and Kamila Bydlowska on violin, the track is a vibrant melting pot of influences with real depth.
If you are looking for something a little bit different and exciting then 'Snap Back' is definitely a contender. Jimmy Regal and The Royals have continued to make their mark on the modern blues genre and they show no sign of their creativeness slowing down any time soon. The album is out on physical formats from the 25th of September and available digitally on the 2nd of October.
Opening the album is the heavy blues infused 'Don't Know Diddley' with the classic blues sound and a lusciously nostalgic guitar duel part way through and the call and response, back and forth of "Hey Bo Diddley"" Whose Bo Diddley?" makes this the perfect track to get the crowd involved with when it is played live. A fitting tribute to a real legend.
There are some great moments on the album, title track and single 'Snap Back', a song that wastes no time getting going, kicking off with a drum fill that signals the band's intent. This is not a chill out album, this is a record that is designed to get you moving and that it does extremely well. Joff's Harmonica solo on this one is a little nugget of solid gold. The song is incredibly catchy, lyrics "One more once, one more twice." have been stuck in my head since the first listen.
Their storytelling gets a chance to shine while making the mundane subject of a flat battery something to get your feet moving to with 'Flat Battery Blues'. A song that has a beat that is impossible to ignore thanks to Sammy Samuel's nifty drum work.
The band have previously worked with Senegalese artist Diabel Cissokho and they proudly credit that collaboration and the music of West Africa as the influence for the stunning 'Disconnect'. Featuring Burkina Faso musician Seydou on djembe and Kamila Bydlowska on violin, the track is a vibrant melting pot of influences with real depth.
If you are looking for something a little bit different and exciting then 'Snap Back' is definitely a contender. Jimmy Regal and The Royals have continued to make their mark on the modern blues genre and they show no sign of their creativeness slowing down any time soon. The album is out on physical formats from the 25th of September and available digitally on the 2nd of October.
More information at www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com