“If you like rock and blues, expertly played with soul and passion then you can’t go wrong with this album. Far from a one trick pony the full on blues/rock onslaught is lightened with such delicate celtic influenced songs as Roll Away and Stay. On this form Back Door Slam should be destined for greatness. ”

The above quotation is taken from one of five great (5/5) Amazon reviews for this album. Now we like Blues-Rock at Shakenstir but Britain has been severely lacking save for some well-established names that we all know. But there’s been nobody new taking on the genre seriousy and well - until now. Davy Knowles is British, just 22 years of age and on the strength of this record is a match for just about anybody, anywhere. He is helped by excellent work from Ross Doyle on drums, Adam Jones on bass plus other players on a variety of instruments from keyboards to cello.

Knowles is a virtuosa performer who writes, sings and plays a variety of instruments (all guitars, mandolin, lap steel). And on the evidence of this record he does them all very well indeed. ‘Come Home’ starts proceedings with an opening guitar passage that promises much and delivers. The guitar work is amazing but when Knowles starts to sing I was taken aback by the quality and maturity of his voice (it’s no wonder that that USA has responded so well to him). It’s a great blues-rock track with huge melody, expressive vocal and extended instrumental passages that are stunning. What an opener! ‘Heavy On My Mind’ is slower, darker; more contemplative; and I’m struck by the song’s excellent lyrics underpinned by another superb melody.

‘Outside Woman Blues’ opens with screaching, soaring guitars before settling down to thrill with some of the best guitar riffs I’ve heard in some time. If you want to know what a great and complete blues-rock song sounds like, give thisone a spin - it’s awesome! ‘Gotta leave’ reveals another side to this young man’s extraordinary talent. It’s a moving, stripped-down song where his voice and lyrics dominate with guitars used lightly but effectively in adding a mournful, sad vibe. There’s a beautiful, understated lyrical guitar passage around the middle-eight that is stunning in its ability to communicate high emotion.

‘Stay’ repeats the trick but this time is even more stripped down with an amazing acoustic vibe aided by strings and wandering guitar notes. The vocal could not be more expressive or perfect. It’s an utterly beautiful and intensely moving song. ‘Too Late’, ’It Takes A Real Man’ and ‘It’ll All Come Round’ liven up proceedings in faultless, traditional blues-rock style before ‘Too Good For Me’ ups the emotional stakes with another slow and thoughtful song. 

‘Roll Away’ is a delightful mix of gentle folk and country while bonus track ‘Real Man’ closes the album as it opened in heady blues-rock style.

This is one very special album and I suspect represents something that we never, ever thought would arrive from a British band. Well, young Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam have come up trumps with the best blues-rock album I’ve heard since Doyle Bramhall’s WELCOME released back in 2005. ESSENTIAL!

5/5