Album review: LAURA COX – Burning Bright

Edel [Release date 08.11.19]

Billed as half English, half French, 100% Rock’n’Roll, this is Laura Cox’s second album and from the outset it is serious rock’n’roll.

Her 2017 debut Hard Blues Shot sold well in France and the lady has had a lot of youtube hits, and on the evidence of the first two songs on this album, she should be a star. The blues rock is solid, Laura Cox doesn’t rely on that commercial or trendy angle nor on sexual image for sales (Alannah Myles she is not), she fronts a 4 piece band that just rocks.

Here Laura plays guitar, lap steel and banjo as well as handling all vocal duties, and is joined by guitarist Mathieu Albiac, bassist Francois C Delaqoudre and drummer Antonin Guerin.

Opener ‘Fire Fire’ kicks off with a great sound that mixes the drive of Deep Purple and fuzz of an uptempo mid 70s Black Sabbath song, before the vocals come in and the song becomes solid rock’n’roll. The vocals are clean and solid, reminiscent of Amy Schugar, driving rhythms dirty and rolling. ‘Bad Luck Blues’ is another great song, the two guitars playing nicely off of each other.

Parts of ‘Last Breakdown’ hint at, in their heavier moments, the bluesier side of bands like Cinderella. Then there’s gentler moments like ‘Looking Upside Down’ where there’s a fine lap steel touch. Yes it does add a country touch but, as the song builds, it doesn’t take over. Works well. ‘Just Another Game’ is also more acoustic and comes over as more heartfelt. Then there’s’Here’s To War’, a heavier and chunkier track, that still retains a rock’n’roll touch.

There’s a great feel to the album, because the different moods run together smoothly, it’s not formulaic, and at times sounds as fun to make as it is to listen to. The press release says there’s a touch of Danko Jones meets Joan Jett which I can def see. Southern Hard Blues? Yep I could go with that.

Definitely one to look out for. ****1/2

Review by Joe Geesin

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

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 again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)