The organ bursting into flames depicted on Paul Orwell Presents Organized Blues won’t
win any award for design but amply illustrates what’s inside the sleeve of
Orwell’s latest album; the dozen tracks baked to the heavy vinyl of his second
LP will singe the ears and limbs of unprepared listeners.
Last year’s spectacular debut Blowing Your Mind Away covered much ground – from Spectoresque pop to freakbeat phantoms – but here Orwell, mindful of his claim to be an artist rather than genre, takes a different approach and serves up a whole LP of fiery instrumentals.
Last year’s spectacular debut Blowing Your Mind Away covered much ground – from Spectoresque pop to freakbeat phantoms – but here Orwell, mindful of his claim to be an artist rather than genre, takes a different approach and serves up a whole LP of fiery instrumentals.
When creating an album of instrumentals there can be a
temptation to make it like an imaginary film soundtrack with different moods
conjuring open-top sports cars coasting around the alps, a love scene, a chase,
a fight and the obligatory club scene. Not so here as Orwell goes straight to
the club scene and keeps the dancefloor packed for the duration. It’s
breathless stuff, played at a frenetic pace, causing old studio engineers in
white lab coats to pull out what remains of their hair as Orwell records
everything into the red. More organ! Louder! More!
‘Don’t Do As I Do (Just Do As I Say)’ sets the pace, teetering
on the very edge of distortion until a guitar solo sears through the track; ‘The
Wild Walk’ is the sound of go-go dancers jiggling down the street; ‘Grave
Robber’ is ‘C.C. Rider’ rode on the fastest horse out of town; ‘Ten Pieces of
Ice’ could be the Prisoners playing ‘In The Midnight Hour’ after mainlining amphetamines;
‘Stiletto’ might’ve been how Booker T. & the MGs would’ve played with pointy
heels stamping on their toes; and ‘Action’ is Memphis Soul Stew brought to the
boil. And that’s simply half of it.
Like a budding Alan Hawkshaw, Paul Orwell has created the
soundtrack to the hottest, most swingin’ party imaginable. Warning: please
ensure all combustible material is stored in a safe place for the duration of
this record. Paul Orwell’s on fire.
Paul
Orwell Presents Organized Blues is out now on Heavy Soul Records. Vinyl only. Very few copies left so be quick!
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