Independent (Release Date 2021)

Jess Hayes has a distinguished musical pedigree as the daughter of Val Cowell and Richard Hayes of long-running blues rockers Bad Influence, and has been making a name with her own band on the South and West London gig circuit. Indeed both acts were on the bill at this year’s Ealing Blues Festival and created a very favourable impression on me.

Her six track mini-album keeps it in the family as both parents and bassist Pete Stroud are among the musicians and share the writing credits.

This is not a blues release as such, but her voice is soulful throughout and has a purity that is pleasant on the ear, aided by an impressive production for an indie release. The closest comparison I reached for was another musical offspring making a name for herself in Mollie Marriott.

‘Hung Up on Your Love’ has a great structure,  culminating into a country rock ish guitar solo, then another rockier solo to close with Jess singing the chorus over the outro.  ‘No One’ starts as a breezy Pretenders or Blondie-like pop rocker before it goes into overdrive with a epic fuzz-toned  guitar solo, almost making it two songs in one.

‘Just Gotta Know’ is a quality song, instantly catchy with wah-wah guitar and ‘Can’t Find Love’ is up-tempo with another tidy, lengthy guitar solo. The sixties soul influences of ‘Lately’ show off her vocals and the same is true with the slow, soulful balladry of the six minute title track, concluding a very impressive effort marking Jess Hayes as one to watch in her own right.    ****

Review by Andy Nathan

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