Phantom Limb
Album: The Pines
Label: Naim Edge
Tracks: 12
Website: www.phantomlimbmusic.com

A year or so back I was flicking through my girlfriends CD collection and there was one there called 'Country Got Soul - Volume 1'. It intrigued me; I love country and I love soul, but then I love whisky and I love gin but would never put them in the same glass. I listened, and it was good.

If anyone ever decides to release and album called 'Soul Got Country' Phantom Limb would be the starring act and just about any track from 'The Pines' would feature strongly. Best shown on the album's second track, 'Tumbling Down', they are a heavy on the Hammond organ (Dan Moore), big on the vocals (Yolanda Quartey) type of soul band but with a bit more than a hint of steel guitar (Stew Jackson) to give their sound a genuine twang.

Produced by ex Black Crowes lead/slide guitarist Marc Ford there is also a, unsurprising, rock edge to some of the tracks. What is surprising though is that they come from Bristol (that's Bristol UK, not Bristol Tennessee, not Bristol Georgia).

'The Pines' is a magnificent debut, destined to become essential listening.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes