Known Associates: Penny Love

It’s hard not to pick an album and solo judge the music inside by its cover. It’s the whole basis of trying something new, Do you like the look of them, are they wearing the latest fashions or even the classic do I know that guy? If you are like me these thoughts run through your head at full speed and if you haven’t heard of the group before then you may not give it a chance and those thoughts ran through my head upon sighting the album for the first time. To be honest my first impression was of a bunch of guys having drinks at someone’s house and having a jam session. Fortunately I gave them a good go and the cover suits the music they play, rock with a blues guitar edginess that make you sit up and say “Oh, yeah!”

Fronted by the well known Warren Cate, who supplies a vocal edge that gives you that deep blues tone driving it into your core and it really comes out in the second track, ‘Mercy’ and the following track ‘Wishbone City’. Also giving you the grunt is guitarist Grant Wills thundering powerful tightly sparked solos as well as keeping the rhythm with bass player Andrew Buckton and Mike Franklin-Browne.

The album reflects how New Zealander’s like to mix it up with reflections of 70’s and 80’s rock being run through your speakers. Anything from a Budgie to Motley Crüe could be referenced when describing the group.

If you like that classic sounding Rock/Blues sound then you wont be disappointed with this album. Give it a chance, I did and I liked it.