The Kev Walker Band - Biding My Time (Album Review)
Monday, 23 September 2013
Written by Heather McDaid
Despite having worked with some great artists in his career, Kev Walker is not a familiar name to many. ‘Biding My Time’ is his third album, but it follows some 30 years after his second. It's hardly surprising, then, that he may have slipped under a few radars.
‘Biding My Time’ was inspired by the loss of Walker’s wife to cancer, with a large portion of the proceeds from its release going to Cancer Research UK and MacMillan Cancer Support, and it’s a largely charming collection from the Essex carpenter-turned-bluesman.
Blues rock has really been on the comeback trail of late, and the Kev Walker Band brings a soulful feel to the genre. Opener Taking Me For Granted is slick, a real polished product that sees Kev and female counterparts creating some really nice harmonies throughout. The title track is a comfortable blend of folk, rock and blues, throwing in harmonicas and strings to boot.
It really is charming at times, and there's a real power lying in the lyrical content. Weight Off Your Shoulders is one of the clearest references to the album’s inspiration, with its light, airy piano backdrop underpinning words about taking things one step at a time, going for tomorrow. Always Thinking Of You also holds up as a heartfelt soliloquy, proclaiming an undying love.
Something Going On Here brings added spice to the table and is tight and punctuated, proving to be a stand out on the record. Another is the Eagles-esque Cold As The Winter, which blends the lighter vibe of most songs with those bolder, rockier moments.
The Kev Walker Band have captured a moment in time with a genuine soul and purpose, but the fact it's touted as blues rock seems for the most part misleading. It definitely has the ability to charm, but not the ability to actively excite beyond its few stand out moments.
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