Howlin Ramblers
Shake it Around
Sleazy Records
Released June 2024
Reviewed November 2024 by Vince Rocker Eavis - DJ Rockin Wolf (www.rockabillyradio.net)
Say kool kats what’s that Ramblin this is coming to us. its …Howling… it’s the HOWLIN RAMBLERS…. !!! HOOOWWLLL! (that’s coming from their rockin wolf) oh yes there back , for their incredible fourth album, the quintet from the lovely land of Spain, Hola amigos
With the success of their previous albums and touring. And having shared the stage with many a top rockin billed acts ,including Fenton, Haley jnr you get the image, Jusus teddy and Carlos jimenez have been back to the magic table of pen and paper. Bringing more amazement for our pleasure, with a 10 hard hitting power rockin tracks. Recorded, mixed and mastered at the holler analogue studios Malaga in Spain. With the Maximo Ruiz Bandera, who has also engineered this great work .
So, lets grab this album by our pointed up ears and take it in on, here we got ,
Members are
JUSUS TEDDY , HOWLIN THE VOCALS , FRONT AND BACKING,
CARLOS JIMENEZ , SLINGIN THE GUITAR AND BACKIN VOCAL
PEPE BADRRIES HOOTIN’ AND HOWLIN THE HARMONICA , MARACAS, MOUTH HARP AND BACKIN VOCALS
JUANLU SLAPPING THAT BOUNCING BASS AS….AND JUAN FERRER WITH THAT CRAZY PULSING BEAT,
Track by Track
1, SHAKE IT AROUND, with the maracas throughout. straight into a power roaring blues bopper. Guitars steady bars, drum fill roll in and a raw harmonica, strong vocal as expected bouncing bass line running along fab harmonica solo, lets jus bop and shake it.
2 Chacon River, an upbeat country and blues with fast bass jumping, steam train drumbeat keeping you movin, harmonic lead guitar and rhythm, a couple of nice string bends almost Steele guitarfish and a snappy driving harmonica… keep you boppin well,
3 Itchy and Scratchy, bluesy intro with climbing repeated scale. Electric mouth harp and a fast clear drum beat and electrifying guitar riffs during the solos. Full on rockabilly blues bass slapping away and a raw edge vocal.
4 Devil on my Mind, yep I bet he is, he’s probably running or boppin away. Electric power guitar riff on the opener, few bars on the mouth harp driving it, with the drum beat racing together with a crazy slapping bass, probably jumpin on it now going crazy, awesome harmonica solo with the rhythm guitar and wild vocals, these guy are on full throttle
5, Sundown Calls, The night may be coming but there still rockin, slightly slower and a lower key, with this country hinted semi voodoo bluesy number. Longer harmonica notes and mid paced drumming, waving swaying bass, smooth vocals finely sectioned. you can see it clear, the red orange nightfall sky. Tipping your hat against the, watching on
6, Over Halfway Now, were in FATES HAND…, I trust them to. old school rockabilly song now with a little blues, rhythmic guitar ,mid to fast drums and stunning lead solo, kind of feel of Berry meets Valence with something else I can’t quite put a ear on, A backin of harmonica playing to the raucous yelling vocal, several elements of different rockabilly infusions.
7, LOVES GONE COLD, as the howling’s go into full minor key and up tempo, with twanging lead guitar tremolo, strong slapping neo billy bass, and with the beat change mid-section allowing for solo sections. Great use of bendy beat chords, and rhythm lead played between them. Done in a touch of country with its fading blues harmonica.
8 Dressed in Black, another shoe breaking full on blues bopper, twanging electric backin, crashing bass line, fast powered pumping drums , cracking rhythmic mouth organ and its roaring sound. Go on you can manage the bop, you are keeping fit.
9 Hot Dog Man… mmmm yum , yea I think we need one for the energy now, this is an even faster paced bopper. The unusual matching, vocals and lead guitar pitch well, fast country blues solo, back to full blue bopping, mad slapping bass , his fingers probably going to drop off unless they made of Steel.
10 Whiskey and Women, jumpy upbeat rockabilly bluesy bopper , if you boots can do it, take them off, bare foot baby. lower key sounds laid back but it’s not, ensemble quick slap bass, full steady fast beat, lead and rhythm guitar and harmonica backing the vocals, very close performance brilliant guitar solo mid-section. calmer section of vocals from the front and band just slightly laid back. Are you ready for it. the bass starts running off and the drums and guitar goes with it for an all in fade out.
Summary
To think the Howlin Ramblers have done all the arrangements on this album, just goes to show the talents. Not only as artist but the production side as well. A full energy performance band. What a fantastic sound they have, a super fine mix of original and neo rockabilly blues country, rock n roll with hints of possible slight voodoo? These boys have got it all, probably need new strings and sticks
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