THE IDLE HANDS – Ready For Business

Shane | 6 March 2013 | Reply

Label: Bone Idle Promotions
Released: September 2011
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8.5/10

The Idle Hands are, according to Classic Rock’s Blues magazine, “Britain’s best unsigned blues rockers” and it’s easy to see why they attract such praise when you listen to their most recent album Ready For Business.

It’s strident, not to mention generous, with no less than 16 tracks that cover a wide variety of ground from acoustic Led Zeppelin-styled stompers (When Shadows Fall, The Truth), Straight ahead electrifying blues rock (Drive, She’s Got The Sunshine), traditional Delta slide blues (Lay My Burden Down), jamming hard blues a la Hendrix or early Clapton (When I First Met Chicago), hard rockers with a touch of funky soul (Ready For Business, Everybody Talkin’), an acoustic rag (Dirty Old Rag), and soaring blues rock (Whenever You’re Around, Take A Closer Look).

Despite the length of the album it never outstays it’s welcome for a moment, and despite the diversity on offer it’s all wrapped up in a sound that is unmistakably The Idle Hands, thanks to the quality of musicianship on offer.

The band name must surely be ironic too, with this The Idle Hand’s seventh release, and with many gigs under their collective belts they are as tight as a band can get: singer Phil Allen has an authentic, warm, growly voice that suits these songs wonderfully, and he can blow a mean blues harp too. Jamie Burns and Paul Heydon lock down the rhythm section and like old pros they provide the foundation for Dave Robinson to wield his axe over.

I can understand why they are Britain’s BEST unsigned blues band… what I don’t get is why they’re unsigned at all!!

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