Album review: MOJO MAKERS – Devils Hands

Mojo Makers - Devils Hands

 

 

 

 

Hypertension Music   [Release Date: 10.10.14]

‘Devils Hands’ is a successful lo-fi, ‘live in the studio’ attempt to capture an essential bluesy feel and soulful vibe. The album comprises 11 impressive tracks steeped in a retro feel, but shot through with originality.

The album is a notable step-up from their last release ‘Wait Til Morning’, which I described as, ‘a work in progress’. That was then and this is now, as ‘Devils Hands’ is the finished product. Where the band previously struggled with anything beyond mid-paced grooves, this album has much better songs with an intuitive production and a consistently excellent performance by vocalist Kasper Osman.

The emphasis is focused squarely on Kasper’s emotive phrasing and the band’s intricate interplay which gives the lyrics their maximum impact and meaning.

This is roots music that draws from a familiar blues source to tap into the collective consciousness and searches for universal experiences and feelings, while the band adds original compositions, deft arrangements and inspired playing.

‘Devils Hands’ draws you in on different levels, from Kasper’s expansive phrasing and keyboard player Lars Emil Riis Madsen’s subtle fills and solos, to the band’s collective ability to slip into a groove, explore cool dynamics and add rhythmic colour.

All these elements combine brilliantly on tightly wrapped ‘Indian Woman’, which is taken up another level by Kristian Hoffman’s  stellar wah wah driven solo.

And while songs are the primary focus of the album, it’s the band’s ability to get inside the lyrics and explore a variety of moods, feels and grooves that makes this a special album. It’s all glued together by a combination of sparkling interplay anchored by the peerless rhythm section of bassist Kristian Bast and Morten Haesum on drums, who both know the value of space.

The duo hangs back when required and conversely steps things to provide a percussive support to voice and dobro. It’s all there on the gloriously ragged ‘One True Love’, which contrary to first impressions, owes its magical presence to the band’s spontaneous approach and Kasper’s  stunning white boy soul singing,  as he lays his emotions on the line.

The opening ‘Come On Brother’ is very much a barometer of what to expect of an album that starts introspectively and sparks to add lyrical emphasis.

‘Man Fire Soul’ is an example of this, as a stop-time riff is topped by Kasper’s soulful vocal, on a piece full of space,  dynamics and Kristian Hoffman’s slashed guitar solo.

‘Howl Away’ on the other hand, is a stripped down, dobro inflected blues with double tracked voices and gospel edges on a tale of infidelity, while the slow drifting blues of ‘Fly On Baby’ cleverly uses a combination of finger clicks and Peter Green style guitar to give it maximum impact.

‘Man Child’ evolves from a moving vocal intro into a sub-reggae percussive groove with slide guitar shapes.  Then there’s the very catchy ‘Naja’, complete with exhalatory sounds over an electric piano-led groove of real finesse.

Given the recent impressive releases by fellow Danish band Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado and Swedish blues rockers Blues Pills, something seems to be stirring in Scandinavia.

‘Devils Hands’ has a weighty ethnic presence that is framed by historical context. It’s full of substance, oozes soul, is essentially routed in the blues and is unreservedly recommended. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


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