The Blow Monkeys

What does it sound like?:

If I could have requested an opening to the new Blow Monkeys album then the first 20 seconds of the first track Stranger To Me Now would have been my order. An orchestral, lazy, jazzy, funky intro that is like the first sip of a cold pint on a summer’s day. You’re in, you’re set, all senses tuned in, this is going to be great. The song is gorgeous, the band perfect, Robert’s vocal comfortingly familiar yet more mature. It feels very personal. What a start.

If as the second track suggests Waking Up Is Hard To Do then this slice of pure funk might just be what you need to get yourself up and about. Not for the first time though a Dr Robert song is not what you imagine it to be. This song is about a struggle with a past that wasn’t always easy and I sense a theme developing.

Rope A Dope was the tactic adopted by Mohammad Ali to deal with the monster that was George Foreman. Reeling him in and exhausting him before cutting the man mountain down. Robert pleads with his darling to take a swing at him. As a tactic in love? Take a chance maybe? All this while the song moves from a rockabilly rhythm into some filthy sax and some more incredible guitar work under a hypnotic repeated Rope A Dope vocals. It’s glorious. However I refuse to say it’s a knockout, not even I can be that obvious….

If the Blow Monkeys aren’t the only game in town then let me tell you something on this track they’re the funkiest. This is Sister Sledge, no not the Frankie iteration, but from their golden Niall Rodgers period. It’s Starsky and Hutch in a club on a hot New York night getting the lowdown from Huggy Bear. This is a band on it, right on it. Robert’s vocal skims across the top of it all. Not The Only Game In Town feels lyrically introspective while the band go full extrovert delivering an absolute master class. Damn these boys are good.

Is this The Gibson Brothers? No, it morphs into George McCrae doing Rock Your Baby. Even has those night club whistles that anyone over 50 will remember. Is Robert talking to his younger self or maybe his children? Either way it’s sound grown up advice given under all this upbeat dance music. Don’t Wish Away The Day, we’ve all been there. Neville really is some sax player by the way the playing on the elongated outro is sublime.

Cards On The Table is a sublime standout among the foot tappers and stompers. A gentle breeze of a song. Wistful and simple yet simply beautiful. A love song to his partner. a partner that’s growing old with him but there’s clearly no dimming of the lights. Robert, you old softy. It’s perfect.

Maybe Cool Summer Hideaway is a mood song that requires something other than a wet Tuesday morning to fully appreciate it. It chugs along nicely without ever really lifting off.

We’re back now with King Of Everything which would sit perfectly on Springtime For The World. It’s a thumping, rockier song where Robert channels his inner Barry White to growl his way through the lyrics. Some incredible guitar work on this, every part played by the multi functional Dr. It’s soulful and grubby. A song I want to hear late at night rattling the windows driving a fast car through empty streets . Epic.

The lead single Together / Alone takes us back to introspective Robert imagining the aging process with his partner “And it brings a tear to my eye, only God knows why”. He’s in it for as long as it takes. “We can go the distance, together / alone”. It’s profound, it’s mature, it’s a writer contemplating the future. Powerful stuff.

Madness piano leads us into I Just Had To Let It Go. I wonder if Robert used this album as some sort of catharsis. Looking back on mistakes made, clearing the decks for whatever comes next. It has a late 70’s feel that I really like a bit Blockheads with that Madness piano throughout. Even the sax feels different here.

More late 70’s here as the intro reminds me of Joe Jackson’s Different For Girls taking us into lovely, bluesy album closer. Buried In The Back Yard is definitely a throwback. Robert gives it some Elvis drawl while the band lay down another relentless easy rhythm.

There’s a bonus track here, The Blue and Gold. I’m not sure why it’s not part of the album. Atmospheric and hypnotic, god this band can play.

What does it all *mean*?

It’s clear that Robert wanted to strip back production for this album. It’s one he wants to play live and with a band this good and songs this special it would be a night to remember. It’s album number 12 in 40 years and it sits very comfortably in the canon. I’m a sucker for the full on funk tracks but the more laid back reflective songs give a great counter balance to the overall feel of the album. I’m obviously a fan of the band. I happen to think Robert remains under appreciated by the wider public while his peers more than respect a phenomenal writer, musician and producer. Those that have allowed Robert Howard and his incredible band into their lives know what a talent he is. In this reflective, mature mood he’s at the top of his game. The Dr will see you now, together / alone.

Goes well with…

Experience. Maturity. Life

Release Date:

31st May 2024

Might suit people who like…

Well aged funk, jazz and soul.

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