No Sinner
Old Habits Die Hard
(Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group)
The band’s Boo Hoo Hoo was a highlight of the 2014 blues-rock calendar and I remain endeared of singer Colleen Rennison because of her voice, her attitude to performing and her appreciation of help and attention. Maybe her past film work has taught her patience, cooperation and consistency. Who knows? But it gives this group a vocal spearhead and watchability.
Produced here by Ben Kaplan whose past projects include Shakira and Rise Against, the sound here aims at sharp-ended impact
‘All Woman’ chugs into earshot and it is clear Rennison has lost none of her vocal strength on a conspiratorially-delivered song; next up is ‘Leadfoot’ with screaming harp on delay and tough guitar figures over a stomping beat, Colleen jumps sounding like a sandpapered Cathy Richardson. It hits home
‘Tryin’ rocks out with a tinge of Janis; ‘Saturday Night’ has all the attack of prime Jerry Lee Lewis and a great vocal performance, one for the Georgia Satellites fans, for sure; ‘Hollow’ is a blues ballad taken at steady unhurried pace, breathy Hammond and a wonderful vocal performance, perfectly keyed. All it needs is Boz Scaggs dueting.
‘Get It Up’ has a dark tread of a tempo and slide touches, she sings with such intent! ferociously sexy; ‘Friend Of Mine’ piles on the drama before backing off for the vocal. The band know exactly how to frame her voice, just as Al Green’s band backed Ann Peebles. That guitar figure stays in your head; ‘Fading Away’ is a delightful funk vamp with short delay guitar that wouldn’t be out of place on a Creedence cut – plus the best vocal here, what a story-teller this lass has become…
‘When The Bell Rings’ is a shadowy number indeed with almost Come Together bass and heavy axe riffing; ‘Lines On The Highway’ takes a gentle path with singing to suit, it has a sad feel and piano.
‘One More Time’ bursts out of the speakers, chords whacked out for a wall-of-sound backdrop. The best band sound here and that’s saying something as the crew sound on the money throughout. We are led out of the record by ‘Mandy Lin’ a grinding slide blues and the sort of number Grace Potter might include in a live show
A definite step on from the debut record, this set has a better, pokier sound than anyone could have hoped for, dripping with sonic lust and intense group playing.
Pete Sargeant
No Sinner’s new album ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ is out now on Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group. For tour dates and more information visit their official website here: http://bit.ly/2bqrKts
(Many thanks to Lee for help with this review)
