Off The Fence is the super sophisticated album that James Hunter has released to celebrate 40 years in the music business. Had I any idea he would last 40 years when I first saw Howling Wilf & the Veejay's, his first band, I would have been even more impressed than I was back then, at the sweat soaked R & B Belter, who you couldn't take your eyes off live. He has spent those decades developing into a deeper richer R & B crooner and singer songwriter, who can get Van Morrison to sing a duet with him on this album, before James opens for him in the US next month. His current sizzling hot band are The James Hunter Six, who are Myles Weeks, Rudy Albin Petschauer, Andrew Kingslow, Michael Buckley and Drew Vanderwinckel the album was produced by Bosco Mann from the Daptones.
The album opens on the dancefloor as you whirl about to Two Birds One Stone like you are in 1940's Havana, while this tale of love and desire makes clear just how much he trouble he was getting himself into with that heartbreaker.
Let Me Out Of This Love has a maturity to James vocal delivery that is burnished with years of living life, he knows this time the games up, he needs to move on, but how to break it gently, to the one he used to love, while sounding like a Jackie Wilson ballad with some very cool cinema organ.
Gun Shy is a Rhythm & Blues brass led stomper for a guy who just clams up when you are around, he has trouble getting his words out, he knows he needs you, but just can't find a way to tell you, other than a super sexy sax solo that should turn your head, so he can do the frug with you.
Believe it When I see it is the sort of soul stirring doo wop blues that needs a bike bell ringing every now and again, with the brass section making sure you really do get what you've been chasing for so long. Here And Now is a slow organ and bass drum led plea, for you to be by his side Here And Now, just the memories of that moment will last him an eternity.
The title track Off The Fence makes clear that you need to make up your mind and fall into his arms right now, over a shuffling neo bossa nova beat and Alan Price style organ he lays it down, that if you don't say yes now, he will run off with some other love, but he's yours until you tell him what you want to do.
Ain't that a trip is his duet with Van The Man, that sounds like an old Sunnyland Slim single for Delmark, this cooks along while they harmonize and trade bon mots, around the harmonica and guitar solos while this struts across the speakers like the dancers in the rather balletic video, this is deeply groovy and could have been a hit in 1957.
One For Ripley is a slow calm blues, full of sorrow, is it for the Ripley of the Alien films or the talented Mr is unclear, but in my mind it makes more sense it being about Sigourney, because he just can't believe it himself, he is marooned by Piccadilly Circus once more.
Trouble Comes Calling takes a solid groove to build this brass and piano led tune, for escaping from the endless scrapes that all your rabbit's feet can't save you from. Particular is a rainy day slow piano ballad with brushed snare and words of wisdom to try to chase away those rainy-day blues.
A Sure Thing is what he wants from now on, a totally cool laid back soulful relationship, that knows exactly what real Rhythm & Blues sounds like. The album closes with Only A Fool knows how to say goodbye, it's always better to not be the one walking away, this is slow sad blues, a sparse and heartfelt tearjerker.
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