Hancox
Hancox: - Vegas Lights
In 2010 Pip Hancox frontman from Psychobilly legends Guana Batz started work on a solo record. This worried me as I really wanted a new Guana Batz album. That was however, until I heard Vegas Lights.
My first listen through the album excited me, Pip has taken his experience in Psychobilly and, with a very talented band, taken the genre to another level. The first track ‘London Streets’ starts with that psychobilly swagger that gets all the honeys on the dance floor, before the chorus comes crashing along like a steam train! That’s when you first notice that this will be different. Without trying to sound to clichéd, the drums sound a lot more ‘Rock’ than what is normally associated with a Psychobilly band. This formula continues through the next tune.
All of a sudden it’s like we’re asked, does anybody fancy a bit of English 1970’s punk? ‘Sally’ definitely leans that way, Pip himself in an Englishmen and you can hear the English music scene a lot in this tune. There’s a superb balance through this album, every song is well planned and executed perfectly.
It’s hard to pick a stand out track as they all sound great but the middle of the album is simply flawless, ‘Beautiful creature’ and 7Th Daughter both making me wish I was dancing the night away in a Rock’N’Roll club! ‘Ellinore’ yet again takes the album to another level, the opening riff almost a metal Riff just played without the layers of distortion before kicking into a killer solo, starting really rocky before fading into the Psycho solo we love so much. ‘Carburetor’ is an instrumental track which gives you a moment to enjoy how well the album is produced and to showcase the other members of the band.
As the album starts to slow down to its end, the songa start to really vary in style, ‘Bleed’ has an almost cowboy and Indian feel to it, and ‘Shakes’ has a Heavy metal feel to it once again with its opening, almost Black Sabbath style riff. The Title track ‘Vegas Lights’ is something completely different that would not sit well with a hardened psychobilly fan, very chilled, creepy and a statement from a true song writer. The album comes to an almighty close with a cracking cover of ‘Call me’ By Blondie which leaves you optimistic and ready to party!
Overview: - This is an album that will split psychobilly fans down the middle. Psychobilly is my genre and the one thing I love is that the music never really changes, it’s just feel good party music. But this album is more than that, it’s a statement from a guy who has worked his arse of for 20 plus years. It’s a mix of styles and will attract new listeners, in my opinion it’s the best Debut album I have heard in a very long time. So give it a chance, open your minds and it will grow on you and be in your jukeboxes before too long. I know that I will be at the Nottingham show, and I would expect to see you there
11.04 Exchange / Bristol
12.04 Old Angel / Nottingham
13.04 The Islington / London
To find out more about Hancox, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Johnny Rose
In 2010 Pip Hancox frontman from Psychobilly legends Guana Batz started work on a solo record. This worried me as I really wanted a new Guana Batz album. That was however, until I heard Vegas Lights.
My first listen through the album excited me, Pip has taken his experience in Psychobilly and, with a very talented band, taken the genre to another level. The first track ‘London Streets’ starts with that psychobilly swagger that gets all the honeys on the dance floor, before the chorus comes crashing along like a steam train! That’s when you first notice that this will be different. Without trying to sound to clichéd, the drums sound a lot more ‘Rock’ than what is normally associated with a Psychobilly band. This formula continues through the next tune.
All of a sudden it’s like we’re asked, does anybody fancy a bit of English 1970’s punk? ‘Sally’ definitely leans that way, Pip himself in an Englishmen and you can hear the English music scene a lot in this tune. There’s a superb balance through this album, every song is well planned and executed perfectly.
It’s hard to pick a stand out track as they all sound great but the middle of the album is simply flawless, ‘Beautiful creature’ and 7Th Daughter both making me wish I was dancing the night away in a Rock’N’Roll club! ‘Ellinore’ yet again takes the album to another level, the opening riff almost a metal Riff just played without the layers of distortion before kicking into a killer solo, starting really rocky before fading into the Psycho solo we love so much. ‘Carburetor’ is an instrumental track which gives you a moment to enjoy how well the album is produced and to showcase the other members of the band.
As the album starts to slow down to its end, the songa start to really vary in style, ‘Bleed’ has an almost cowboy and Indian feel to it, and ‘Shakes’ has a Heavy metal feel to it once again with its opening, almost Black Sabbath style riff. The Title track ‘Vegas Lights’ is something completely different that would not sit well with a hardened psychobilly fan, very chilled, creepy and a statement from a true song writer. The album comes to an almighty close with a cracking cover of ‘Call me’ By Blondie which leaves you optimistic and ready to party!
Overview: - This is an album that will split psychobilly fans down the middle. Psychobilly is my genre and the one thing I love is that the music never really changes, it’s just feel good party music. But this album is more than that, it’s a statement from a guy who has worked his arse of for 20 plus years. It’s a mix of styles and will attract new listeners, in my opinion it’s the best Debut album I have heard in a very long time. So give it a chance, open your minds and it will grow on you and be in your jukeboxes before too long. I know that I will be at the Nottingham show, and I would expect to see you there
11.04 Exchange / Bristol
12.04 Old Angel / Nottingham
13.04 The Islington / London
To find out more about Hancox, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Johnny Rose