Estrin’s Nightcats clearly have a sense of humour calling their new record ‘Contemporary’ when sonically it’s a real showcase for the Blues of days gone by – paying continued homage as it does to the likes of “James Cotton, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter.” It’s great album too with the band, formed in 1976, sounding better than ever as they flit across a land dominated by Blues, jazz, rock and a little Big Band swing to boot. Add to that some wonderful guitar and a heap of very entertaining lyrics and you have some recipe!
On an album without a dud track in sight there’s plenty to turn your head and plenty of wonderful variety too. It all starts with the nod to getting old that is ‘I’m Runnin” replete with sublime harmonica and the tongue-in-cheek title track that notes all the changes that Estrin needs to make to make it in the modern music business and sees Rick autotuned!
There’s plenty more cool stuff though! ‘New Shape’ is full of Soul and Funk, whilst ‘She’s Nuts Up’ adds some zing, ‘Dump that Trump’ gets mildly political but is a ball of fun and the instrumentals here all have real charm – from the funky ‘House of Grease’ and the slowly stirred jazzy Blues of ‘Cupcakin” to the real gloriously Bluesy closer ‘Do Bees Bounce.’
Seriously good stuff.