Sometimes it has to be said that today’s music business can seem a strange and mysterious place. Within its world there are inevitably some bands that breakout and there are those who, despite having more to offer, remain for whatever weird reason overlooked.
It is often hard to find the factors that lead to one achieving a breakthrough against the other. It’s all about ‘of the moment’ sales, of course, and, I guess, that means the majority buy the majority of music within the former category.
Having said that, never say never or lose heart or faith in the fact that cream rises to the top. With that in mind I would like to point out that one of the best kept secrets of British music at the moment just has to be Blackbud. Despite being in the previously established minority let me present my case.
When I reviewed Blackbud’s first album From The Sky, albeit a while after its release, I opened with the phrase, ‘In true British Parliamentary tradition I must declare an interest’. Okay, since I wrote that the only interests declared by British Parliamentarians have proved to be of the self serving type, but the phrase still stands.
You see, I have a love affair with this young band from Wiltshire that dates back to a gig in Southend’s Riga Bar several years ago. At the risk of repeating what I wrote in my review of From The Sky they radiated that horrible word ‘potential’ in huge bucket loads. Despite being the support band, I left the club thinking about the trio from the West Country, and I have hungrily followed their progress ever since.
So what was it that stood out? Well, in front man, singer and guitarist Joe Taylor they have an extraordinary talent who is blessed with on-stage charisma and style similar to the sadly missed Jeff Buckley. Adam Newton just mesmerized me on his fretless bass, and Sam Nadal was excellent on drums.
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