ALBIE DONNELLY'S SUPERCHARGE
Twenty first century anachrony or retro flavoured timeless music? That's the initial question I asked myself upon receiving this for review and first giving it a spin. I mean, Albie Donnelly's Supercharge sounds like a name from a bygone decade, and the whole aesthetic of the cover looks of another time. Even in the press blurb I had through with this, it's described as "unashamedly retro". But Albie himself, who's been out on the live circuit for the past 40+ years and a founding member of Supercharge in 1974 (which I guess explains the vibe I picked up from the name!), is quoted as saying, "these are great songs that swing and make people smile." And he's hit the nail on the head there. This isn't about riding contemporary waves of ephemeral trends or any sense of bandwagon jumping. It is, quite simply, a man and his musical entourage, doing what he loves, which is making and performing music to entertain people. In this, he irrefutably succeeds. 'Get Hip' has entertained me, anyway.
And his entourage includes Molly Duncan from Average White Band, as well as a guest spot from Tommy Blaize from the 'Strictly Come Dancing' band (surely a selling point to ensnare all 'Strictly' fans out there!). But it's Donnelly himself who takes centre-spot, on lead vocals and tenor sax, and the man can certainly sing and play, across explosively up tempo numbers, such as album opener 'Killing Floor', right through to down-tempo, more laidback pieces like 'Sack Full of Dreams'.
So I return to my original question - twenty first century anachrony or retro flavoured timeless music? Well, it's both. It's inescapably anachronistic, but delightfully so, on an album loaded with timeless rhythm and blues that's sure to, as Albie himself says, "make people smile". And dance, no doubt. Not me, though, I don't dance. Fuck no.
And his entourage includes Molly Duncan from Average White Band, as well as a guest spot from Tommy Blaize from the 'Strictly Come Dancing' band (surely a selling point to ensnare all 'Strictly' fans out there!). But it's Donnelly himself who takes centre-spot, on lead vocals and tenor sax, and the man can certainly sing and play, across explosively up tempo numbers, such as album opener 'Killing Floor', right through to down-tempo, more laidback pieces like 'Sack Full of Dreams'.
So I return to my original question - twenty first century anachrony or retro flavoured timeless music? Well, it's both. It's inescapably anachronistic, but delightfully so, on an album loaded with timeless rhythm and blues that's sure to, as Albie himself says, "make people smile". And dance, no doubt. Not me, though, I don't dance. Fuck no.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
3MS Music
Album
GET HIP
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
42:41
RELEASE DATE:
18th January 2019
TRACK LISTING
1) Killing Floor
2) What Kind of Woman is This
3) Outta Sight
4) Sack Full of Dreams
5) Back in Love Again
6) Last Two Dollars
7) Sixty Minutes of Your Love
8) What You Won't Do For Love
9) Got My Whisky
10) I Was Telling Her About You
2) What Kind of Woman is This
3) Outta Sight
4) Sack Full of Dreams
5) Back in Love Again
6) Last Two Dollars
7) Sixty Minutes of Your Love
8) What You Won't Do For Love
9) Got My Whisky
10) I Was Telling Her About You
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"It's inescapably anachronistic, but delightfully so, on an album loaded with timeless rhythm and blues..."
