Album review: JACK BESSANT – Lucky Mountain

CHEDX [Release date 14.08.20]

Jack Bessant is a solo singer-songwriter and the bassist in platinum selling rock band Reef. For Jack this album is something of a catharsis, confronting an intensely personal subject that has been buried deep.

“I had to deal with my brother committing suicide…” he explains. “It was heavy, it was horrific. I’ve managed to deal with it now through my music. I didn’t want to have to talk about it at the time, I didn’t want to have to say it out loud, but it’s important, we have to be able to be raw with each other…It’s been a dark horse on me and hopefully through my music I’m able to help other people, not just with coming to terms with something like that, but the realness of all our lives.”

He’s joined on this spiritual journey by Spex (guitars), Bruno Killingham (keys), Tommy Williams (keys), James Stewart (guitars), Marc MacNabb-Jack (drums), Martin Hedder (piano) and Julian Bath (slide guitar, banjo). Spex (who is also a skateboarding legend after a little web searching) and Julian Bath both played on Jack’s 2015 album ‘Jack Bessant with the Cheddar Experiment Band’.

‘Slow Burning Angel’ highlights the warm and mellow singing style of Jack Bessant. A truly superlative song and vocally Canned Heat’s Al Wilson came to mind. High register singing but never shrill and always soothing on the ears.

Nothing ever gets to rocky on this album, the guitars and drums only really crank up on ‘Peacemaker’, a mighty fine slice of Allman Brothers approved music.

Throughout the album Jack plays some stellar harmonica, none more so than on ‘Stack Up Beers’. ‘Save 1 Kiss’ is an emotional piece on how at Christmas time we think of the ones no longer with us. The piano and sleigh bells (I think!) underpin the vocals and guitar to great effect.

The overall vibe off the album is one of laid back music, something you can imagine playing on speakers down at a beach surf party or just an album to chill out to at the end of a day. Don’t go expecting Reef, but do dive in if you enjoy mellow, laid back rock with a distinct 70’s feel. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 6 October 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 8 October 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 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)