Aaron Keylock of course will have been on many people’s radars since he started appearing in the music press even before Metal Hammer hailed him as “shredding like Gary Moore” at the tender age of 16 back in 2014. More accolades of course followed, all equally glowing and all before he’d released as much as a single.
His debut album therefore is almost as anticipated as it is hyped, but does it cut the mustard? Well you’ll be pleased to know it does, sure many of the songs have been road-tested over the last few years, but to think that one song young can rock so well and sound so mature gives you hope for the next generation of musicians.
The older generations stamp of approval isn’t a bad recommendation either and Keylock has played with artists as diverse as Wilko Johnson, Joanne Shaw Taylor and Alice Cooper
Sure, as you might expect, opener ALL THE RIGHT MOVES is honed to perfection, riff-driven, imposing and suitably dense with a bluesy thrust and just a touch of the south. It’s good very good and so is the rest.
DOWN is a fun counterpoint, almost a jam; MEDICINE MAN a nice low key blues romp, whilst FALLING AGAIN that follows twists again built on slide and very focussed, it delivers exactly what you want to hear from a blues guitar prodigy, not just talent but real maturity and a touch of the Stones for good measure.
Further in JUST ONE QUESTION adds a little Gary Moore to the mix and is probably one of the earliest songs here, next up AGAINST THE GRAIN the title track just blows you away with some full tilt rock and roll before THAT’S NOT ME adds an almost alt-rock take on the Blues. It’s all working beautifully.
This is clearly an album that casts its net wide, showing that defying genres doesn’t always have to get messy. Indeed its all rather refreshing especially for one so young.
The ride home gives us the rather moody TRY a song that is part Black Crowes, part Americana and all heart. It’s another layer to an album of depth. SPIN THE BOTTLE by contrast is all about song-writing and creating a groove and SUN’S GONNA SHINE is just Southern sun channelled through a 70’s British rock sheen. It’s all rather gloriously eclectic.
The album closes with NO MATTER WHAT THE COST – one of the best here and a song that underlines that sometimes the hype is warranted. With a few more miles under the belt its frightening to think how good this young man will be in the future, he’s pretty damned good at 19. Add our name to the list of publications that agree Aaron Keylock is certainly one to watch!
