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Review: 'Jimmy Regal And The Royals'
'Ain't Done Yet'   

-  Label: 'Lunaria Records'
-  Genre: 'Blues' -  Release Date: '29.10.21.'-  Catalogue No: 'LUNA-0008'

Our Rating:
Ain't Done Yet is the new 5 song EP from south London Blues band Jimmy Regal And The Royals that's a very cool follow up to last years really rather wonderful Late Night Chicken. This time the core band of Joff Watkins on Harmonica and vocals, CJ Williams on Guitar and Sammy Samuels on drums are joined by guest Chris Rand on Sax on the opening song and Diabel Cissokho on Kora on the closing song.

The ep opens with the title track Ain't Done Yet that seems a brave claim in these times when death never seems that far away, but these guys have been hanging out deep in the bayou's of South London for long enough for the estuary blues they play to now also have a bit of a hi-life edge to the guitars and some cool brass stabs to help keep them going and to make sure they are in it for the long haul.

Mickey Two Suits is not only a great title or nick name but a great harmonica led slice of gritty urban south London Blues that recalls Howling Wilf and the Veejays in all of that bands sweaty prime as Joff Watkins really blows on that harp as we wonder just how tight those two suits are and if they are soaked through with sweat or not.

Way To Lose slows things down for a tale of the mean streets of South London the gun violence and sorrow it causes this has a sense of loss at its heart as the gentle acoustic guitar and harmonic backing bring the tale to life alongside the rattlesnake percussion.

Show Time sounds like a tale of the things that happen before you manage to get on stage and what the bands road manager needs to do to get everyone in the right place and frame of mind to blast out the blues once more as another great Slim Harpo inflected harmonica solo blasts through the centre of the song.

Can't Cry No More is a new version of the tune that was on the bands last album Late Night Chicken, that was recorded for Radio 4's Loose Ends, with special guest Diabel Cissokho adding some magical Kora playing, to make the song sound rather mystical and perfect for some late night listening as the Kora and Harmonica weave in and out of each other, this sounds effortless and as if it was recorded live rather than pieced together long distance.

Find out more at www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com www.lunariarecords.com https://www.facebook.com/jimmyregalandtheroyals


  author: simonovitch

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