Norfolk’s Bad Touch’s highly anticipated fourth studio album “Kiss The Sky” was recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Brine at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wale and mastered by Pete Maher. If you’re a fan of their past work then make sure you’re sitting comfortably because this might be their finest work to date.
Good time rocker ‘Come A Little Closer’ that opens has it all, great riff, great danceable tempo, a rocking Soul-tinged vocal and soaring backing vocals. It comes across just like a British take on the Black Crowes in their pomp, a band who of course were a heady mix of retro influences themselves.
And believe me this is one that doesn’t stop giving. ‘I Get High’ adds some swing and a great groove, and shimmies like Reef used to at their best; whilst ‘Let Go’ has more of that sweet southern harmony and recent single ‘Strut’ rounds out what surely must be the finest opening to an album in recent years.
‘I’ve Got The Music in Me’ a cover of the song originally recorded by the Kiki Dee Band is a nice rocked up take on the 70’s classic that Bad Touch make their own. ‘Can You Save Me’ is a little more Allmans, a slower number that rides a bubbling riff and throws in plenty of dynamics in the way The Black Crowes used to in their prime. And with the infectious groove of the fired up title track ‘Kiss The Sky’ following you realise that this is an album that set the bar high and keeps nudging it north!
‘See You Again’ slows things down and has a touch of ‘She Talks to Angels’ in its music and its musings, before ‘Before I Die’ gets a little funky and ‘Read All About It’ cranks it up again to cook up a rich stew of those wonderful guitar tones, groovy beat and smokey whiskey-smooth vocals. ‘Too Much of a Good Thing’ that follows could well sum up this album of exceptional Southern-tinged and Bluesy Hard Rock.
‘Sun and the Moon’ that follows is one of my favourite moments here, its a song cut from the same cloth as ‘Shake Your Money Maker’ and closer ‘Something About Your Kiss’ takes things even further harnessing the same influences and well beaten paths to create something oddly timeless and yet contemporary with a huge crescendo to finish. It’s a great song but whether it signals a step in a new direction or a pleasantly framed distraction I guess we’ll find out next time.
Here on album four Bad Touch are a damn fine outfit, as good as anyone out there doing this kinda thing. I’d even go as far as to say that this is right up there with early Black Crowes and Cry of Love’s debut.
9/10
Pre-order – https://badtouchkissthesky.com
