LOST DAWN - ALBUM REVIEW

Lost Dawn - Last Dawn (Easy Action Records) 
Lost Dawn - Lost Dawn

Release Date: Out Now

When I started this blog back in 2012 there were two intentions: one was to write about any and every piece of music that came my way and the other was to shine some focus on the talent that lies in the nooks and crannies of South West of England, an area often ignored by the mainstream music world. With Falmouth trio Lost Dawn I am able to satisfy both of those intentions with glee so settle in and let's go for a journey that starts in a fishing town in the depths of Cornwall that is a melting pot for an artistic community.

This debut album opens with 'Song For Robert' and it's a strong start. Louis XIV swagger mixed with the tongue curling attitude of T-Rex comes swirling out of the speakers through distorted guitars and some seriously flared trousers. 'Breaking Bad' is more of a desert morning garage rock piece with chugging guitars giving way to a slinky little riff and the strained vocals of the wonderfully named Stanley Duke. On the glorious 'Wasting My Time' the snake-hipped style of the trio starts to shine through and, despite the rough production quality, the song writing starts to really hit its stride. By the time we reach 'Talk About It', Lost Dawn have hit peak freak out with a Hunter S Thompson flavour running through the jangly, Gomez guitars and shuffling rhythms. 'Count On Me' is an absolute delight with a sea of cymbals crashing on the rocks of a circular guitar riff leaving you no choice but to get yourself shipwrecked along with the rest of us, tempted by the siren song of the chorus.

Lost Dawn - Are you ready?
What I love so dearly about Lost Dawn is that they are serious about their rock'n'roll but equally serious about having fun with it which is so sorely lacking in most bands these days. Even on the lackadaisical 'Darkest Night', you can feel the hours of jamming and rehearsal in dark, grotty rooms come shining through like a light on the horizon. 'The Fall' is far more groove based and the choppy guitars and rolling bass evoke images of hazy clubs in LA frequented by men in huge fur coats and women in, well, not very much at all. And this album just keeps on giving in terms of freshness and creativity as the tabla rhythms and chug of 'Manchild' are met with the semi-coherent mutterings of Duke channelling Bolan like a trooper.  

The hypnotically tribal drumming of Benjamin Woods opens 'Four' and Duke is soon at it again, singing down a tube of stoned hysteria  like Syd Barrett jamming with Black Sabbath. As the album approaches its tantric climax, 'Colussus' strides in to view with a couple of bottles of champagne and some much stronger substances secreted about its person. And then there's 'Kennedy'. An album of this magnitude needs to finish on an epic tune and the ten minute closer is everything you could possible want in an album closer. Think Arcade Fire, the Flaming Lips, Sgt Pepper era Beatles and Elbow all rolled in to a slow burning, sitar infused tune that essentially encapsulates the breaking of day when you've been up all night creating, writing, imagining and generally getting the most out of life. Lost Dawn draw from the past, sure, but what they do with those influences and reference points is so utterly clean, pure and refreshing that it really doesn't matter. I'm pinning this to the mast right now, this is my album of the year so far. There, I said it.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/lostdawnrock?fref=ts

Live Dates:


27th April - The Joker, Brighton w/Kit Wharton

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