It seems like we just got the latest Blow Monkeys album and we’ve not even managed to find the time to review it yet, and the next opus is prepping for launch. When we last spoke to Dr. Robert, the band had just signed with Last Night In Glasgow, the non-profit Glaswegian label releasing many a Monastic favorite these days [see also: China Crisis, Countess Of Fife, Twistettes, Skids, Armory Show, etc.]. That label had issued the “Together/Alone” album, as well as the Dr. Robert/Matt Deighton album, and the second Peter Capaldi album as produced by Dr. Robert. But the situation has changed since then.

In the 2023 PPM interview, Dr. Robert revealed that the band had just signed with the famous Alan McGee [Creation Records] in a management capacity, and in the time spent moving from then to now, McGee has started his own label. It’s a link-up with another Dr. Robert collaborator and well-known producer/bassist/icon, Martin ‘Youth’ Glover. What else could they call the label but Creation Youth Music, right? I guess if your manager’s label is putting your album out, they’ll have a vested interest in seeing to its widest possible success. It makes lots of sense. Alan McGee is no babe-in-the-woods. Dr. Robert also said how with McGee in charge, he was hopeful that Blow Monkeys might make it over to this side of the pond for the first time in way too long.

In the meantime, the album is ten tracks with the Blow Monkeys team playing the songs. Neville Henry on sax, Mick Anker on Bass, and Crispin Taylor on drums. Guests figuring on the disc include Mick Talbot on keys, Steve Sidelynk on percussion [a Blow Monkeys long-time veteran session player]. And Gina Foster who previously added her vocals to the stellar “Journey To You” album by Blow Monkeys. The release date if August 15th, and the title track has been released as a single already. Let’s sample below.

Wow! I cannot wait for this album! I just bought the single [even though it will be redundant after the CD ships] so I can hear the whole thing and report back with my findings. My finding say: call this one smoking hot! The synths were syncopating with Mick Anker’s bass and the horns were pushing hard with this one. It walks a fine line between SoulJazz and uncut Funk Strut. Real drums were hitting hard here, but not as hard as the horns and sax from Neville Henry were. It is brasher than brash and poised to heat up any Summer playlist. Once more Blow Monkeys manage to stun me with their significant musical powers.

So I need to pre-order because I don’t want to wait a hot second to get this one. Your choice of CD at £13.00 or light blue vinyl LP for £25.00. Don’t crowd. There’s room for everybody! DJ hit that button…NOW!

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