Album Type:
Album
Date Released:
11th
November 2014
Label:
Ripple
Music
Cry Of The
Ocean – Track Listing
1.Cry Of The Ocean,
Part One 05:44
2.Cry Of The Ocean,
Part Two 01:54
3.Heavy Blue Sky
05:03
4.Sail Forever 04:04
5.Heartbreaker 04:19
6.Devil's Brew 03:35
7.Snake Eyes 07:01
8.You'll Never Know
07:15
Bio
The
power trios of the late ’60s and early ’70s are the blueprint for
Stubb’s loud, hard-driving, fuzzed-up heavy blues rock. The band
recorded their first full length album for UK label Superhot Records,
and hit the road, gigging with such heavy rock luminaries as the
Gentlemans Pistols, Firebird, Cherry Choke, Steak, Sungrazer and The
Machine as well as appearing at Desertfest to a packed house. Making
the trip over to Europe twice with Stone Axe from the USA further
cemented Stubb’s reputation as a solid live act with some serious
chops. Quickly, their debut album sold out and fans of heavy rock
have been waiting eagerly for their sophomore effort. Now, Ripple
Music is proud to deliver Cry of the Ocean, a blissed-out new album
that will cement Stubb’s reputation amongst the higher hierarchy of
heavy rock bands.
Band Members
Jack Dickinson-
Guitar and vocals
Tom Fyfe- Drums
Peter Holland-Bass
Review:
London’s
Stubb are a band whose name has been familiar to me for many years.
However, it is only with the arrival of their second LP “Cry of the
Ocean” that I have had a chance to familiarise myself with their
intoxicating brand of heavy, fuzzed out blues rock. Within a couple
of spins, I was kicking myself for not getting to know them earlier.
A
cursory glance at the tracklisting tells you straight away that you
are in safe hands. Any band that is willing to separate tracks into
parts/movements/suites in true classic Prog style are obviously
people of exquisite taste. “Cry of the Ocean” embraces this in
fine fashion, kicking off with the powerful opening salvo of Parts 1
& 2 of the title track. Part 1 begins by establishing a serene
and suitably oceanic atmosphere with calm guitar and gentle toms,
bringing to mind Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Albatross”. The band
picks up the pace, bringing in some suitably aquatic vocals before
unleashing a weighty stoner riff, demonstrating the might of Stubb at
full tilt. Things slow down a little as we enter Part 2 which
introduces an anthemic stomp not too dissimilar from Fleetwood Mac
again, but this time in full “Rumours” pomp.
This
strong curtain raiser features all of the winning elements that Stubb
explore in more detail over the subsequent six tracks. Taking an
obvious love of classic 60/70s power trio, Cream and modern disciples
such as Sweden’s Kamchatka, they add a healthy dose of Kyuss desert
dirt and a desire to embark on psychedelic jams akin a more grounded
Earthless (whom Stubb ably supported in London recently). A stumbling
block for some bands with similar influences is the vocals. There is
a fine line between the soulful, raw vocals of the likes of Paul
Rodgers or John Garcia and sounding like Black Stone Cherry or some
terrible, overwrought X-Factor wannabe. The vocals here are
thankfully firmly on the right side of this line, demonstrating a
satisfying mix of tunefulness and punky enthusiasm.
The
likes of “Devils Brew” and closer “You’ll Never Know”
demonstrate the kind of hard, dirty stoner rock that have established
Stubb’s reputation. The latter brings the album to a close in
suitably epic fashion by saving the longest and wildest, overdriven,
wah-drenched solo until last. A whole album of similar tracks would
have still made for a great listen, but it’s the tracks where Stubb
stretch out in new musical directions that leave the biggest
impression here.
“Heartbreaker”
shares more than a title with Led Zeppelin. Rather than echoing the
powerful riffing of that classic track, this brings to mind the
folkier acoustic side of the 70s monsters and provides a welcome
oasis of calm as the album’s centrepiece. The album highlight for
me however is the superb “Snake Eyes”. I mean it as a compliment
of the highest order when I say this track wouldn’t sound out of
place being stumbled upon, bleary-eyed late at night watching a BBC4
Old Grey Whistle Test compilation. The track takes Stubb’s core
sound and adds a liberal dose of heavy Deep Purple Hammond and a
yearning, soulful edge which brings to mind the likes of Procul
Harum, particularly during the huge chorus. The track then veers into
high-octane instrumental interplay which brings proceedings to a
close, having covered all the best parts of 70s classic rock in seven
minutes.
Overall
this is an awesome album from Stubb, which given the current
popularity of heavy retro rock deserves to find them a wider
audience. Whilst being shamelessly derivative and hugely in thrall to
obvious influences, Stubb bring a modern rawness and honesty to their
music which sets them above many of their more popular peers.
Words
by Charlie Butler
Thanks
to Cat Jones from Southern Cross PR and Ripple Music for the promo.
Cry Of The Ocean is available to buy on DD/CD/Vinyl from Ripple Music
now.
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