Rhythm 'n' blues is the bedrock of rock music.
Even now, guitarists of all styles and creeds cut their teeth on the 12 bar. So when a band like Hidden Charms comes along, it's a neat reminder of what lies so pointedly under the surface.
A four piece from London, the band sound like a Beat group from 1964 but with a defiantly modern twist. There's a soulful edge, with the rhythm section laying down a smooth, under-stated groove.
Working in the legendary Sound City Studio recently, sessions were overseen by Nick Waterhouse who commented recently: "I just don't work with anybody but they have a pretty amazing, truly rhythm and blues approach to playing that has an amazing energy to it."
New track 'Sunnyside' certainly re-pays his faith. Hidden Charms have a giddy energy, a dancefloor frenzy which is more suited to legendary Mod club Tiles than any modern super-club.
Yet this isn't some attempt to turn back the clock. Sure, the band are informed by the past but are confronting the present with the lyrics derived from the world around them.
Infectious R&B with just a hint of youthful swagger, you can listen to 'Sunnyside' now.
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