Marcus Trummer has the kind of voice that works whether he is singing soul or Blues or even rock – a fulsome, throaty Calgary Canada vocal that marries perfectly to his stunning guitar playing. He also has a natty line in hats.
This is one of the most confident debut albums I have ever heard and from the opening of ‘Holding Out For You’ to the last notes of ‘Let The Devil Win’ he belts it out as though he had been around for years. There are strains of Stax and Atlantic soul in many of the songs, but he can also let rip with some Hendrix inspired riffery too.
Opener ‘Holding Out For You’ is a gorgeous bit of classic soul, throbbing bass keeping you centred, Hammond organ right in the groove and a white soul vocal that is creamy and clear. The guitar solo is strong and the whole song is a blast.
That leads into another soul piece, ‘Let You Down’, pure Stax with blaring horns, deep in the groove and with a hint of Jamiroquai about it.
‘Hard Time’ is a Blues/soul piece, guitar led but with that whispering Hammond sound filling the sound out. Trummer’s vocal is the best on the record, and his guitar is clean and has a Dickie Betts feel to it.
There isn’t a weak track on the album, just a series of killer soul and Blues numbers. My personal favourite is the closer ‘Let The Devil Win’, much harder and in an Americana groove but there is no track I wouldn’t listen to again and again.
Fine debut and he suggest a great path ahead of him.
