The rhythm section may be familiar from Portishead, but it’s hard to imagine a band further along the musical spectrum than The Blessing. This west country agglomeration play with a verve and clatter that reflects the sheer relish of their playing. Songs such as ‘Cake Hole’ or the single ‘Bleach Cake’ are all rattling high energy and crashing bass, which leave you breathless, with Judge and McMurchie barely given room to spit out a theme let alone solo.

The Acoustic Ladyland/Led Bib vibes are nakedly on view, but The Blessing also have their own voice, not to mention a scurrilous sense of humour, lack of pretension and joy in playing that sucks you along like poor Toto stuck in the tornado. Nor are the band just bang and clammer: Deamer has a wide vocabulary and tough but tender dynamic range, while songs like ‘Loubia’ have an unexpected African mystery, ‘Thermos’ has an extended groove and the hidden ‘Small Fish Pond’ is lounge jazz gone wonk. Enjoy, and catch live. Andy Robson

This review is from Jazzwise Issue #118 to our full section and receive a Free CD Subscribe Here...