Idlewar/PHD [Release date 30.09.16]
I’ve lived in Orange County, Southern California – there’s two sides to it. You have the “as-seen-on-TV”, plastic surgery, perfect world populated by people who are shallower than most of the baths you’ve ever had. Then you have the Inland Empire – an endless vista of track housing, strip malls and strip joints, food outlets as fast as a speed-induced picnic, neon lighting with half the bulbs not working…..they’re as different as Harrogate and Barnsley. I’m guessing this is where Idlewar call home.
Imagine a wedding where the two love birds come from rival biker gangs who have forged an uneasy truce for the day – Idlewar’s debut album, Impulse, is the soundtrack to that wedding.
Littered with heavy stoner grooves as “garagey” as an oily rag and yet graced by the very powerful, clean vocals of bassist/singer, James Blake, invoking Chris Cornell fronting Clutch, or even Ritchie Kotzen – refreshing to hear a real voice rather than a growl in this genre.
In truth, this is an album of two halves – whilst the whole album could best be described as more “early evening dusk” rather than “midnight dark”, there is a murky flavor to all these songs but the first four tracks stand out. “Stone In My Heel” sets the pace, “Soul” is a crashing foot-stomper and “Criminal” is Rhino Bucket meeting Powerage-era AC/DC in a sleazy motel for cheap, meaningless sex – with the kind of heavy riffage that Rich Robinson brought to the Crowes.
“All That I Got” is hypnotic and gloomy – with a melody as sticky as a pub carpet after student night. Thereafter, it’s gets a bit samey and by the time you get to the last track, “On Your Knees”, you are indeed prone and blindfolded, hoping those bikers are going to play you the first four tracks again – rather than initiate you.
This album will have fringe appeal but the niche is there with echoes of Soundgarden and some interesting and alternative time signatures thrown in for good measure or complicating things, depending on your point of view. Definitely worth a spin for the first four tracks.” ***
Review by Mark “Mad Dog” Shaw
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
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 2 March 2025.
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 on 4 March 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025
SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
