Fancy something a little different? Well the U.K.’s Stiletto Shakers have the sort of antique sound you’d swear you’d been transported back in time. Part Soul, part real Rhythm and Blues with great groove and presence their new EP ‘Built That Way’ starts wonderfully with the smooth, soothing sway of ‘the horn and guitar fueled ‘The Deep End.’
Inspired by the likes of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jack White, Rival Sons, The Black Keys and Paul Weller there’s an immediacy to The Stiletto Shaker’s approach that makes you feel right at home.
On the title track that follows the horns and bass set the scene before we crawl to a funked out plateau that shifts and builds to a final adornment of fuzzy guitar solo. It’s wonderful and completely entrancing.
The more expansive ‘Take My Time’ starts off with those ever present horns and a soloing Blues guitar before a Rock and Roll wail sets the song alight without raising the pace, it’s a crawling, creeping song, full of languid swagger and an almost organic flow. It also has that hypnotic quality that seems to be shot through this EP.
The short and stripped back ‘Homestead’ on the other hand offers another view of the band that is based on simple acoustic guitar, echo and in this case birdsong. It feels like it was written sat on the porch on a still new morning as the world around starts to wake. It’s a nice interlude.
‘The Threat Of Happiness’ crawls in on the back of an almost mournful horn before it’s offset by jangly guitar and a vocal that feels almost half hopeful half downcast. There’s a New Orleans vibe somewhere in there and enough Pop nous to have t sitting precariously balanced between melancholy and barroom sing along. It’s probably my favourite moment here.
And that leaves just closer ‘Big Pay Day’ to take us out with a more traditional Blues opening, a sudden change of pace and some real Rock and Roll revelry. It’s a fun song made to dance to, and a great way to close.
Based on the variety on display here and the quality of the songs collected I’ll wager we’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys. I’d love to see how this plays out live.
8/10