Robert Jon And The Wreck – Red Moon Rising
(Journeyman Records - 2024)
(Style: Southern Blues)
Robin Jon & The Wreck must be the hardest working band on the live circuit. There tours no sooner end when another one begins, which is amazing. Baring this in mind just how they have found time to go into a studio and create new music is astounding. Not only have they made ‘Red Moon Rising’ it is quite possibly their finest release yet! It is simply stunning!
The artwork that adorns the album is beautiful & hints nicely at what to expect. The record is exceptional from start to finish and for the sake of this review I’m going to start with the final track. ‘Give Love’ is a song we need to hear, it’s message one we need to spread. There is some awful shit happening across the globe at the moment, let’s accept our differences and give some love.
‘Stone Cold Killer’ is a great start, then things get better and you are in ‘Trouble’ with a layer of keyboards courtesy of new official member Jake Abernathie and a killer riff from Henry James. Things slow down a bit with the tasteful blues of ‘Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man’ with Robert Jon Burrison's voice providing depth and feel, while it also features a killer solo from James. We are really up and rocking to some awesome Southern Blues, from these Californian rockers.
Next up we get a bit of a funky feel from the Orange County quintet, with the title track ‘Red Moon Rising’ it is another cracker! Four songs in and this is proving to be one hell of a listen. And so, it continues throughout, song after song provides a perfect balance of explosive passion and raw blues. I could carry on track by track but space simply doesn’t allow, everything is played with subtle precision and feel, I love it. ‘Down No More’ is slightly Countrified with a gospel feel.
You might get the idea that album grooves with nuances adding to the variety on offer. I now must return to the final track ‘Give Love’ for me it is the highlight, from the delicate drums, to the sprinkling of ivories, it is a message for the masses, “we could all use a little more love in the world” the vocals are passionate and heartfelt, the solo around the mid-point is tasteful and fluid. What an album! What a way to end.
By Paul Mace