Rob Heron And The Teapad Orchestra
Album: Money Isn't Everything
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.teapadorchestra.co.uk/

I recently had the good fortune to this band live, they were supporting the very wonderful Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three at the Kazimier in Liverpool and I was highly impressed [see October's "Live" section of this magazine for my review].

I was very pleased to be asked to review their debut full-length album [they have previously released an EP called "Teepy Eepy "] but I could not help but wonder if they could reproduce their exuberant live sound in the studio back home in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I need not have been concerned because the answer is that they most certainly can.

Like Pokey and chums, the TPO meld various forms of early American roots music [including Western Swing, Jazz, Ragtime, Cajun, Blues and Country] into a cohesive and original style of their own. Indeed, Pokey himself has said that they have "One of the more original sounds and most importantly they feel the old music but they're more concerned with speaking their own voice, like you should".

Indeed, nine out of the eleven songs on this album are originals that were written by Rob [the lead vocalist] and the Orchestra.The two non-originals are the opening track, "Danse De La Limonade", a great Cajun stomper by Leroy Broussard, and the highly topical "Bank Failures" by Bob Miller.

The original songs deal with traditional themes such as disasters ["Great Fire of Byker"]; drinking [" Hangover Blues" and "Quaich Keeper's Blues"] and fiscal matters ["Money Isn't Everything" and "Rich Man Now"].

What makes Rob and the TPO stand out is the way that make contemporary songs sound timeless and as though they were recorded in America during the inter-war period. This is due in no small part to their superb musicianship and Rob's evocative vocals.

This is a highly enjoyable album and one that I would unreservedly recommend. If you can catch them live, do so, because you will be thoroughly entertained.

Peter Cowley