He ain't just heavy, he's a genre crossing blues brother
Stevie Nimmo - Sky Won't Fall
Stevie Nimmo - Sky Won't Fall
As a statement of musical intent you’ll be hard pushed, even this early in 2016, to beat 'Chains of Hope.'
It’s a song that loudly and proudly declares the arrival of Stevie Nimmo’s second solo album Sky Won't Fall, the Scottish blues musician's most diverse and satisfying work to date – considering the quality of material threaded through the six album, twenty year and counting career of The Nimmo Brothers (the sibling band project with brother Alan Nimmo), that’s quite a statement in itself.
But it’s a blues-infused fact, proven unequivocally by Stevie Nimmo’s crossing-the-genres songwriting, the quality of musicianship on display and the audio job done by co-producer and King King drummer Wayne Proctor, whose ear for audio mixing is as precise as his hands and feet are on a drum kit.
The dirty great riff of 'Chains of Hope' powers the song like an electrical charge, producing an outstanding slice of blues rock that features the meaty rhythm section of drummer Craig Bacon and bassist Mat Beable, searing six-string work and a vocal that is the equal of the music in its energy.
The pacier 'Roll the Dice Again' follows with a riff that is no less incessant and a vocal that clearly sold its soulfulness to the blues.
But Stevie Nimmo carries many shades of blues in his musical palette and it’s that strength of diversity (much like his Manhaton Records label mate and touring buddy Ben Poole) that makes Stevie Nimmo and Sky Won’t Fall the exceptional artist and album they are.
Stevie Nimmo purposely wanted Sky Won’t Fall to have as broad a musical spectrum as possible to showcase the breadth of his songwriting and fondness for blues, rock, Americana / country and soul-pop.
Fair to say he succeeded, and delivered, in some style.
The up-tempo positivity of 'Lovin’ Might Do Us Good' and the mid-tempo groove of 'Change' add a little funk to proceedings, the latter featuring a softer, slightly higher vocal from Stevie Nimmo.
Nimmo’s country sensibilities are to the fore on 'Walk the Thin Line,' a track that features some delightful pedal steel from Lloyd Maines and a song that the likes of Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks will be kicking themselves for not writing first.
'I’ll Pray For You' has a soul-pop pulse and 'Love You More Tonight' is a delicate, acoustic and vocal closing piece, but at the core of Sky Won’t Fall is a blues player at the top of his game.
'Running On Back To You,' a slow blues letter to missing loved ones while out on the road, is soaked in six-string feel and vocal passion; in contrast the big and beefy 'Still Hungry' kicks its way out of the speakers, all Fire, Water and 70s attitude.
'Gambler’s Roll' is more than their equal however; it contains some blistering blues licks and is a worthy cover of, and successor to, the Allman Brothers Band original.
While The Nimmo Brothers are a critically acclaimed, highly respected outfit with a get your money’s worth attitude to live performance, they have never achieved the recognition or following they deserve in the UK.
Similarly Stevie Nimmo’s 2010 debut album The Wynds of Life, an excellent album of semi-acoustic Americana blues and country influenced numbers, was sadly under promoted and tragically under heard.
More lately, Stevie Nimmo’s equally talented younger brother Alan has been progressing up the blues rock ladder with King King who, on the back of albums such Reaching For the Light (the best blues rock release of 2015 and a Featured Album on FabricationsHQ) are on the cusp of moving from being a marvellous act to a major one.
But with Sky Won’t Fall and the backing of Manhaton Records Stevie Nimmo has the chance to attain the recognition he so thoroughly deserves and make a name for himself beyond being one half of The Nimmo Brothers.
If this release doesn’t put Stevie Nimmo firmly on the cross-genre blues map, expand his audience beyond the blues rock crowd and garner some awards the Sky Won’t Fall – but the ground should be shaking in anger and asking why the hell not.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and promote the work of the artist.
No infringement of copyright is intended.
It’s a song that loudly and proudly declares the arrival of Stevie Nimmo’s second solo album Sky Won't Fall, the Scottish blues musician's most diverse and satisfying work to date – considering the quality of material threaded through the six album, twenty year and counting career of The Nimmo Brothers (the sibling band project with brother Alan Nimmo), that’s quite a statement in itself.
But it’s a blues-infused fact, proven unequivocally by Stevie Nimmo’s crossing-the-genres songwriting, the quality of musicianship on display and the audio job done by co-producer and King King drummer Wayne Proctor, whose ear for audio mixing is as precise as his hands and feet are on a drum kit.
The dirty great riff of 'Chains of Hope' powers the song like an electrical charge, producing an outstanding slice of blues rock that features the meaty rhythm section of drummer Craig Bacon and bassist Mat Beable, searing six-string work and a vocal that is the equal of the music in its energy.
The pacier 'Roll the Dice Again' follows with a riff that is no less incessant and a vocal that clearly sold its soulfulness to the blues.
But Stevie Nimmo carries many shades of blues in his musical palette and it’s that strength of diversity (much like his Manhaton Records label mate and touring buddy Ben Poole) that makes Stevie Nimmo and Sky Won’t Fall the exceptional artist and album they are.
Stevie Nimmo purposely wanted Sky Won’t Fall to have as broad a musical spectrum as possible to showcase the breadth of his songwriting and fondness for blues, rock, Americana / country and soul-pop.
Fair to say he succeeded, and delivered, in some style.
The up-tempo positivity of 'Lovin’ Might Do Us Good' and the mid-tempo groove of 'Change' add a little funk to proceedings, the latter featuring a softer, slightly higher vocal from Stevie Nimmo.
Nimmo’s country sensibilities are to the fore on 'Walk the Thin Line,' a track that features some delightful pedal steel from Lloyd Maines and a song that the likes of Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks will be kicking themselves for not writing first.
'I’ll Pray For You' has a soul-pop pulse and 'Love You More Tonight' is a delicate, acoustic and vocal closing piece, but at the core of Sky Won’t Fall is a blues player at the top of his game.
'Running On Back To You,' a slow blues letter to missing loved ones while out on the road, is soaked in six-string feel and vocal passion; in contrast the big and beefy 'Still Hungry' kicks its way out of the speakers, all Fire, Water and 70s attitude.
'Gambler’s Roll' is more than their equal however; it contains some blistering blues licks and is a worthy cover of, and successor to, the Allman Brothers Band original.
While The Nimmo Brothers are a critically acclaimed, highly respected outfit with a get your money’s worth attitude to live performance, they have never achieved the recognition or following they deserve in the UK.
Similarly Stevie Nimmo’s 2010 debut album The Wynds of Life, an excellent album of semi-acoustic Americana blues and country influenced numbers, was sadly under promoted and tragically under heard.
More lately, Stevie Nimmo’s equally talented younger brother Alan has been progressing up the blues rock ladder with King King who, on the back of albums such Reaching For the Light (the best blues rock release of 2015 and a Featured Album on FabricationsHQ) are on the cusp of moving from being a marvellous act to a major one.
But with Sky Won’t Fall and the backing of Manhaton Records Stevie Nimmo has the chance to attain the recognition he so thoroughly deserves and make a name for himself beyond being one half of The Nimmo Brothers.
If this release doesn’t put Stevie Nimmo firmly on the cross-genre blues map, expand his audience beyond the blues rock crowd and garner some awards the Sky Won’t Fall – but the ground should be shaking in anger and asking why the hell not.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and promote the work of the artist.
No infringement of copyright is intended.