Rabbit Foot
Album: Swamp Boogie
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 7
Website: http://www.rabbitfootmusic.com

I've always thought having a rabbit's foot as a talisman for good luck is a bit of an oxymoron, it was never particularly lucky for the rabbit. A talisman strikes me as an insurance policy against a worry talent on its own not quite being able to carry the day. Looking at the sleeve and seeing that the band were opening up with the blues standard, "Wang Dang Doodle" concerned me that the band were taking on a similar insurance policy with the songs.

"Swamp Boogie" starts at a ferocious pace, southern blues rock, screaming guitars and distorted vocals and a familiarity of a song that has become a blues standard for a damned good reason. More importantly, it gave me an instant reference point for a band that up until this point I'd not previously heard. There is only one way to approach that song and that it to attack it, it's how you attack it that sets you apart and the Rabbit Foot approach pretty much appeared to be a knee to the groin, this is gritty, dirty blues and no mistake.

Part of the reason for that sound is the instrumentation, distorted blues guitar welded to primitive rhythms literally banged out on a set of three African bass drums given the sound a really primeval feel sort of Memphis Tennessee meets Mali.

This is raw in your face blues with a twin vocal attack, one male, one female comes at you at an almost relentless pace and if the vocals and guitar don't get you, the drums will. This is blues, loud and proud. This is also blues that's raw and exciting and that wouldn't be out of place in a voodoo lounge, albeit one that has found its way to the UK.

Neil King