The Hoax are one of the best British blues bands to have ever existed. They released their first album, Sound Like This, in ’94 and after ’99’s Live Forever they would call it a day, until this comeback album in 2013. An absolute killer band led by vocalist Hugh Coleman, twin guitars of Jesse Davey and John Amor, and rhythm section with Robin Davey on bass and Mark Barrett on drums. They tread a line between modern blues and a more traditional sound and vibe.
Opening track, Hipslicker, is just superb with a great hook and groove, and some killer guitar playing. The title track has a more traditional feel, but grooves along great with a fast shuffle. The big fuzz of Let It Shine follows with a killer groove and hook. Stick Around is an evil sounding shuffle with a great vocal from Hugh Coltman – one of the best blues vocalists you will hear. The superb, Give Me A Drink, closes out Side 1 with a wonderful swing to the groove and some killer guitar from Jon and Jesse.
Two Steps Back is in the great tradition of blues story telling, a very slow blues with a really stunning vocal from Hugh. Keep Messin’ is more traditional in arrangement, and even complete with some great harp playing. A very dirty slow fuzzed up riff to Talk Is Cheap is next up, and that leads into the boogie of Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong. The traditional shuffle of Roll On Up is next, and the album finishes with Tes Nuits Insolits, a slow jazz blues crossover sung in French. A really awesome band that deserved so much more than they got.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
