Robin Trower was a household name in the early 70-ies. First as the guitarist of Procol Harum and then as a solo artist with albums such as “Twice removed from yesterday”, Bridge of sighs, For earth below, Robin Trower live (recorded at the Konserthuset Stockholm). Back in those days the Robin Trower bluesrocktrio sold loads of records worldwide.
On his latest solo album Living out of time it is Robins guitar, and the vocalist Davey Pattison that are in the spotlight on the albums 11 tracks. But in the background you´ll find bassist Dave Bronze and drummer Pete Thompson.
Trowers guitarplaying is still bluesy but without stepping over into “metal”. Singer Pattison actually reminds quite a bit about the former Trower vocalist James Dewar which only adds to the album sounding “familiar” for us who have listened to Robin Trower for years. Some of the tracks has a touch of Hendrix, in the same way that other artists use Beatles chord harmonies, or van Halens football arena singalong style.
The album has quite a few medium tempo tracks with dreamy guitarsound and nice melodies as the opening track What´s your name. It is a 3 minute poprock track a la Experience. An extra plus for Trowers special dissonant intro/outro chords. Another good track with a cool refrain is Please tell me, which comes with nice strat-, and wah-wah action from Mr Trower.
It is not often that I get nostalgic in as “it was better back in the good old days”, but LOOT does manage to capture much of Trowers musicality. It is nothing new or groundbreaking but if you like music with Hendrix character and Phil Lynotts soulful rockballads you should be in the market for this platter. Maybe it should have been a track or two shorter. But the combination of good material, great singing and guitar work is never wrong and that makes LOOT to a mostly positive listening experience. Bluesrock from yesterday for today, it is as simple as that!
Michael Linderoth /Fuzz Magazine May 2005