Features

Fuzzface's latest album

Foster Factor: May 2005

I've been listening to three very different sounding albums but they all have one thing in common - quality material matched by quality musicianship.

Colchester-based FUZZFACE recently launched their debut album at the town's Arts Centre and promptly packed the place out. The group may have been taken aback by the response but they needn't have been. They've built a reputation as one of the most exciting local bands on the circuit and clearly the word is spreading. "Are We Nearly There Yet?" is the title of their first full length CD. It follows the E.P. "Josephine" which set the standard for their debut album. At the heart of their sound is a pumping organ of the Hammond variety. Played by Matt Simpkins it helps to give Fuzzface the edge over the plethora of guitar bands who continue to dominate the scene. Not that Fuzzface are a guitar-free zone. Far from it - soulful front man Adrian Johnson is also a handy guitarist and with the rock solid rhythm section of drummer Mark Turnbull and bassist Toby Bull I can't help thinking Fuzzface are ideally placed to build on their recent successes which have included well received shows in London venues like The Spitz, The Water Rats The Hope and Anchor and The Garage. The album features 11 cracking original numbers at various locations including St. Augustine's Church Hall in Ipswich of all places. I love the artwork too. It includes photos taken at Felixstowe seafront. Fuzzface are a band going places. Whether they're nearly there yet remains to be scene but from where I'm sitting they're well on the way. Check out the website www.fuzzface.co.uk

Back in the late eighties I became good friends with former Mean Red Spiders guitarist Toni Vines. It's a friendship that continues to this very day. He's been involved in various projects since the demise of the Spiders but few have come close to his latest venture THE CAMEL FOOT RAIDERS. It's something of an ambitious project. I dare say Toni could have put together yet another blues-based group and got plenty of work on reputation alone. Instead he's spread his wings musically by getting some like-minded musicians to let their hair down and play a wide range of styles taking in reggae, country and rock'n'roll along the way. Meticulously recorded by Pat Grueber at Ipswich's Gemini Studios The Camel Foot Raiders have come up with an adventurous selection of songs from the likes of Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Peter Tosh, Steve Earle and Merle Haggard. Every single number hits the spot including the hidden track "The Harder They Come" which is a real live favourite. Martin Pender's unique voice is improving with age. His trademark growl is still there but there's lots of heartfelt singing too, so much so that Toni's lead vocal duties aren't as prominent as you might expect. Neil Topple's harp playing has also come on in leaps and bounds and with the engine room experience Darren Elden and Craig Clark this all hangs together rather nicely. Toni's better half Tina provides backing vocals and add the wonderful pedal steel guitar playing of Tony Ryan and you have an album oozing class. The title of the CD is "Lazy Days" and is up there with Toni's best work with The Mean Red Spiders. The band are always worth catching live and you'll have a chance to see them at Ipswich Music Day on the BBC Radio Suffolk stage on Sunday 3rd July at 6pm. A visit to the website will give you details of all their gigs. Get along to www.camelfootraiders.co.uk. It really would be rude not to.

Lowestoft-based singer/songwriter JOHN WARD has released his latest album and an excellent listen it is too. "Common Ground" is John's fourth CD and sees him collaborating with his regular sparring partner Mario Price as well as playing alongside a select band of other musicians. If you've seen John on stage you'll know how he really attacks both his acoustic guitar and lyrics he himself has penned. Here's a man who tells it like it is and one who's never been afraid to pin his colours to the mast. The album comprises 13 songs and two instrumentals. Titles like "Songs Of Teenage Angst And Love Written By Middle Aged Men" and "Too Much Month At The End Of The Money" reveal a great way with words and believe me he has the tunes to go with it. His roots are firmly in folk music but like all the genre's best songwriters he's acutely aware of the need to make his music relevant to today's society. Last year saw him publish an epic poem called "The Iron Bridge" which looks at Lowestoft's history. It evolved over 20 years and is now getting an airing by way of public performances in local schools. Published by Ferini Designs the book includes wonderful drawings by Mark Burrell. Whether in print or on CD John Ward is a real jewel in the crown of Suffolk's music scene. He gigs regularly and I'd heartily recommend "Common Ground" which closes with a delightful little tune called "Caught By The Cossacks". That sounds painful! The whole album is a cracking listen and is one I'll return to time and time again. Meanwhile visit www.johnward.org.uk to find out more about the man and his music.