The Wildcards – When The Moon Shines Bright (CD)

The Wildcards 3rd studio album ‘WHEN THE MOON SHINES BRIGHT’ features brand new material written by band members Vince Lee and Martin Vowles.
The quality of songwriting is stronger than ever on the new record, clearly showing how the band has evolved since their first album ‘On Fire’ (2004). The band spent most of 2009 writing and arranging tunes for the new disc taking time out from their usual busy touring schedule to re-evaluate The Wildcards overall direction and it’s paid off! There is a much more up-tempo feel with less emphasis on the straight-ahead blues feel of previous recordings. Be prepared for a Rock & Roll Freak show of dark Cuban rhythms laced with heavy tremelo surf ‘n’ swamp guitar tones… Killer vintage R&B, infectious jungle swing and nitro-powered rockabilly all delivered with trademark Wildcards retro weirdness. With suitably creepy artwork from the twisted mind of Vince Lee sealing the package, you can expect a more than worthy successor to the bands previous release ‘Raising Hell’ which Blues Matters Magazine voted 7th best blues album of 2007.

The title track, ‘When The Moon Shines Bright’ is a relentless, hypnotic rollercoaster of a song written by Vince Lee all about the effects of the full moon on humanity and the animal kingdom. Written as an observation of all the crazy things and strange situations that occur on a full moon… A grinding de-tuned guitar riff drives the groove while chanted lyrics deal with Insanity, jealousy, sexual tension, violence and greed. All the good stuff!
‘Welcome to The Snakepit’ a Vince Lee original with a seductive Eastern vibe. Vince tells the story of a musicians downfall, while his guitar leads the way like a medicine show snake charmer; an epic recording with a highly descriptive story line written in the classic calypso tradition.
Martin Vowles wrote and plays lead guitar on the slightly sinister ‘Django on acid’ instrumental ‘Dead Cat Bounce’ which would have made the perfect sound track for some weird 50′s B-movie! He also wrote the surf guitar influenced ‘Out of Control’ A bass and drum stand-off which features Al Wallis punching out a particularly nasty groove on the Fender bass locked in tight with Kevin Crowe’s signature 40′s style jungle drum stampede.

All this served up with a bunch of obscure vintage tunes such as ‘Chocolate Shake’ by Duke Ellington, re-worked from the original big band arrangement and stripped down to it’s dirty bare bones, a song with some very dark lyrical undertones… Pretty risqué for the 1930′s you might say! The Wildcards invite young female vocalist Becca Langsford to sing on their version of Ruth Brown’s ‘Big Sweet Baby of Mine’. It showcases Becca’s awesome vocal talents on this rocking track from the 50′s, full of handclaps and Vince’s cool doo-wop backing vocals.
Time to shake it all up with a kick-ass rendition of Little Ike’s ‘She Can Rock’. Vince screams out those Little Richard inspired vocals the only way you can… Like he’s possessed by Satan himself! He takes a well-deserved breath to join Martin in a full on rockabilly guitar pile-up, a full 2 minutes of rockin’ kick! Next up is ‘Gal From Kokomo’ a West Coast jump blues classic from Roy Brown, fat guitars replace the tenor and baritone saxes of the original version. The Wildcards prove they can still knockout a swingin’ punch if the situation arises. Guitar Slim’s ‘Got Sumpin’ For Ya’ takes the mood into early 50′s rhythm & Blues territory. Vince’s outrageous guitar solo, mimicking the original’s ‘over-amped’ ‘too loud in the mix’ qualities to chaotic perfection. Primitive Rock & Roll at it’s finest! Time for a little controversy with our next selection, ‘Women Are The Root Of All Evil’ An overlooked gem from the 1950′s by Paul Willams featuring Martin’s off the wall guitar fills and a lot of tongue in cheek gospel testifying. Make of it what you will… Praise Them Roots!

The Wildcards – “When The Moon Shines Bright”
CD | Release date: 22 February 2010
Deluxe high gloss fold out digi-pak, featuring illustrations by Vince Lee.

Tracks
01. When The Moon Shines Bright
02. Women Are The Root Of All Evil
03. She Can Rock
04. Chocolate Shake
05. Out Of Control
06. Got Sumpin’ For You
07. Dead Cat Bounce
08. Gal From Kokomo
09. Sweet Baby Of Mine
10. Welcome To The Snakepit
11. Women Are The Root Of All Evil (Reprise)

2010 Tour Dates Holland / Belgium

Friday 26 February – The Borderline – Diest – Belgium (Album Launch Party!!!)
Saturday 27 February – The Ace Cafe’ – Rumst – Belgium
Sunday 28 February – De Witte Bal – Assen – Holland

Website The Wildcards : www.wildcardsweb.com | www.myspace.com/wildcardsmusic