Album review. 

https://welshconnectionsmusic.com/

Artist : The Rhythm Slicks 

Title : Howlin' 

Label : Foot Tapping Records (2020) 

It's trad, Dad! Rippin' it up on their debut album, Welsh rockabilly kings Rhythm Slicks dig a retro spacetime continuum in the ground and (rock and) roll in it, eating weeds, spitting nails. This is rockabilly chops the way they should be served: lean, greasy, bony shanks of sound fit to be fried. The greatest thing about this impressively authentic debut is that so rabid is its purism, in its entire duration it is impossible to find anything remotely original about it and that, perversely, is to be celebrated! Kev Burnett, chief growler, sets the tone, with that slightly cinematic sonic sneer beloved of 'billy bellowers, when required lending proceedings a seedy dimension that sets off the thorough thrash of the combo niiice. Cutting the rug Kev stomps the rest of the Sticks - Nick Jones on guitar, bassist Tony Biggs bass, and skinsman Mark Kemlo - hammer with panache. Lyrics are largely incidental to music like this, because it's all been said before and actually who cares what it's "about"? It's rock and roll: it's not about anything! Since the last big 'bill revival - I guess The Stray Cats almost forty years ago, plus some loose change American shizzle - this sort of music has been pretty much below the radar, preaching endlessly to the converted (convertibles?). It takes guts to play music like this these days with real love, and a sort of studious attention to detail at no cost to energy and edge. God only knows how in this cruel, fool world four mojo-working stiffs like this even found each other, much less waxed a debut this hot. Damn, it's the way it should be: attitude.

Jeremy Gluck

https://www.mixcloud.com/jimmurray2/dj-steve-stclkowax-rockin-radio-with-my-guests-the-rhythm-slicks-23-october-2019/

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Howlin’ – The Rhythm Slicks 

CD review 

The Rhythm Slicks are a four piece from South Wales, a part of the UK that boasts some of the foremost performers and musicians on the Rock ‘n’ Roll circuit.  Here we combine the talents of Kevin Burnett, songwriter, vocalist and rhythm guitar, with gifted lead guitarist Nick Jones, and familiar faces Tony Biggs and Mark Kemlo on upright bass and drums respectively. 

The opening track is a kicker at over three and a half minutes duration.  Already, a few bars in you get the feel of the band’s style.  The guitar riffs are ballsy and accomplished, the beat and rhythm strides through ‘Black Whiskey and Gasoline’, and with the volume turned up to the max in my headphones, it’s an aural treat.  Pacey and punchy, that’s the best way to describe the opening bars of ‘Blowing Through’, which makes best use of the infectiously repetitive drum beat, and a well-conceived key change mid-song. 

There are a number of ‘Destiny Brown’s when you research it.  This one on track three is a well-travelled and experienced musician in a Juke Joint fashion.  Her story is set to a more sedate and jazz pace, to really good effect.  ‘Blue Voodoo’ displays more of Nick Jones’ dexterity on the six strings, set to expert drum progressions from Mark Kemlo.  If you’re looking for one, here’s a stroll beat.  Back up rocking again with the title track ‘Howlin’, delivered vocally in a wolf-man style, unsurprisingly perhaps.  The lead guitar cries and screams in the instro breaks, all that’s missing is a vocal ‘howl’, to go with the sinister growl and laughter.  Yeah readers, this is well deserving of the title track honour. 

Ok readers of a certain vintage, when you see the name ‘Rockford’, what do you think?  The Malibu based private eye, played by James Garner?  So did I.  Well, ‘Jumping Mister Rockford’ isn’t anything to do with that, this is a bright and bouncy rocker, that bridges styles between country and Rockabilly.  A slight easing of pace for ‘Black Hearted Woman’, a nippy stroll beat that has an early Ike Turner feel about the guitar work, and embittered lyrics about a lost love.  I liked the ‘ad-lib to fade’ ending to this, it makes you wonder exactly how much further the lyrics would go, other than the promise of composing the song. 

Some Blues next, with top drawer walk and slide on the guitar on ‘Red Devil Baby’, which is complemented by the ‘tick’ of Tony’s bass slapping.  ‘Storm Blowing Ali’ is another jazzy feeling song, with a catchy rhythm and a super-cool late-night vibe to both the lyrics and guitar work.  We end with a classic blues bopper riff opening ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’, another howl-at-the-moon themed rock-along with just the right amount of ‘how hows’ to give it that floor filling sound.  Quite the lady this song is about. 

The Rhythm Slicks are another band that we have yet to see live, something that must be rectified when we, and they, can go out again!  There are a variety of styles, beats and rhythms on this record.  The song writing is accomplished, all the tracks are original compositions, and the musicianship is exemplary, from the engine room of the tempo, to the blistering guitar solos.  Kevin’s vocals are powerful and carry the lyrics extremely well. 

This is one of those records that needs to be played loud and proud, readers.  Top stuff

The Rhythm Slicks “Howlin’” 

Release Date: June 2020 

Review Date: 23rd July 2020 

The Rhythm Slicks are a 4 piece Rockin’ outfit from South Wales (one of the hotbeds of rockin’ rebellion since the dawn of Rock n Roll) and I do have to admit some familiarity with both the band itself and its individual members. I have been lucky enough to work on some events with the boys and their live shows never dissappoint. 

The full line up is Kevin Burnett (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) who is also the main songwriter (all songs are band originals), Nick Jones (lead guitar) whose background isnt pure rockin’, he has experience in the jazz and rock fields and brings something new to the sound, Tony Biggs (Double Bass) who will be familiar to many of you from other band like The Rimshots and finally Mark Kemlo, one of the finest drummers to ever raise a stick in Roots music. 

So lets get howlin’, track one “Black Whiskey” explodes out of my speakers and I already know where I am and where I’m going. This is also a live favorite and is an incredible song, a potential “Track Of The Year” for me. Kevin won’t mind me saying he isn’t the tallest man but what a strong voice he possesses (like many welsh vocalists he has a choir background) and he really delivers on this. You also already get a sense of the incredible guitar sounds that are going to be a highlight all through this album with Nicks Licks (poetry boy) propelling this song somewhere special. Another great riff launches “Blowing Through” and the guitar variety on this track is insane. I’m not ignoring Tony and Mark but their backbeat is a given, we have one of the best rhythm sections on the planet providing an incredible platform for Kev and Nick to build their sonic paintings upon. “Destiny Brown” is track 3 and eases off a little with Nick’s jazz training coming to the fore, a lovely swinging groove and a nice demo of the bands versatility. We return quickly to rockin riff’s and a track that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Chris Issak album “Blue Voodoo”. We’re down in the swamp and the gorgeous riffs, licks and notes keep us there for almost 4 minutes. After a bit of a rest we go uptempo again and one guaranteed to fill dancefloors with boppers and another potential “Track Of The Year” for me, that’s two now!! “Howlin’” is written by Kev and Nick (who came up with the riff first, Kevin adding lyrics to suit) and its an instant classic for me, a superb combination of all the elements from 4 musicians at the top of their games. 

On Vinyl that would be the end of side one and we turnover to side 2 with another blaster “Jumpin Mr. Rockford” which is closer to a pure rockabilly sound with Nick joining Kevin on vocals. In the main this is a high energy album and this track is off the charts, it’s incessant driving pulse just demands attention but could I survive a dance to this? Only one way to find out. We ease back a little on the throttle for “Black Hearted Woman” and its probably at the fast end of the stroll spectrum and its another twin attack of great vocals and red hot guitar. We stay on the stroll spectrum for “Red Devil Baby” which is almost as scary a nickname as the previous track, I ain’t messing with either of these ladies. Strong walking blues flavor to this one and Nick once again goes places in his solos most pure rockabilly leads wouldn’t be able to reach. We brighten and lighten with “Storm Blowing Ali”, another track that wears its swing influences easily. Once again there is an incredible tone to the lead solos and I believe that Nick is playing a handbuilt electric built precisely to his specifications and NO pedals were used at any time. And all too quickly we reach the end of the album and we close with more blues bop brilliance. “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” opens with that familiar blues bop riff we’ve heard a hundred times in recent years but then it gives so much more. Tony and Mark are still there in the background laying the best of foundations which the incredible instuments of Kevins voice and Nicks Licks (enjoyed it so did it twice) build something special on. I’m offically exhausted now but extremely satisfied. 

Not easy to summarise when so much is going on in ten tracks but this is an album that has all the elements required to be a pure rockabilly album but adds other flavors and takes some unexpected turns. There are pinches of blues, jazz, swamp pop added to the pot. The album title is “Howlin’ “ and perhaps one way to describe the overall sound of the album is if Howlin’ Wolf made a Rockabilly Album, it might sound like this. 

The album comes out on Foot Tapping Records and I must give credit to Graham Dominy for the great job done mixing this album. Each element is crystal clear and the combination is electrifying. Some members of this band have been stars on the rockin’ scene for decades and will remain so for decades to come but I really think this album announces two new stars in Kevin and Nick and I doubt if I will hear a better guitar album all year. PLAY IT LOUD 

For Bookings: rhythmslicks@hotmail.com 

I think most general roots fans will love this album but I highly recommend this for fans of “Blues Flavored Riff Based Rockabilly”, but really any music fan could buy with confidence. 

Review by Eamonn Doyle. 

Highly recommended. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9sgOzbkKe0 

Tracks 

1. Black Whiskey 

2. Blowing Through 

3. Destiny Brown 

4. Blue Voodoo 

5. Howling 

6. Jumping Mr. Rockford 

7. Black Hearted Woman 

8. Red Devil Baby 

9. Storm Blowing Ali 

10. Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing