KEITH THOMPSON'S STRANGE BREW: Independence

Keith Thompson's Strange Brew

Independence

© 2006 Thompson/Broomhall (634479217074)

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Commercially aware and compelling combination of expertly crafted songs, incisive lyrics, total commitment vocals punctuated with desperate, troubled guitar - all presented on a bed of super solid grooves.

tracks

1 Crash & Burn
2 Emergency
3 Blue On Blue
4 Preachin' The Blues (Acoustic Version)
5 Heartbreaker
6 You Got The Better Of Me
7 Nothing At All
8 Young Girl (In A Man's World)
9 Wotcha Doin' To Me
10 Independence
11 Long Road Home (Part 1)
12 Long Road Home (Part 2)
13 Preachin' The Blues (Full Version)
14 Honest To God

notes

The definitive album from Keith Thompson, a seasoned live performer and recording artist of exceptional talent, technical brilliance and creative depth.
With BPL in the production seat and a hot new live band featuring members of the legendary Climax Blues Band, Keith Thompson is busy preaching the blues in 2008 with a commercially aware and compelling combination of expertly crafted songs, incisive lyrics, total commitment vocals punctuated with desperate, troubled guitar - all presented on a bed of super solid grooves.

reviews

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  • Lovers of classic British Blues/Rock cannot fail to be courted by the sheer tigh
    author: Musician's Union Magazine

    Independence Keith Thompson’s Strange Brew Skyscraping blues guitar and Bryan Adams-style vocals from much respected Keith and his band Strangebrew exploiting the talents of drummer Roy Adams and bassist Neil Simpson. “Emergency” with it’s mix of Stones’ production and traces of “Witch Queen Of New Orleans” in it’s main riff, hits the spot and lovers of classic British rock cannot fail to be courted by the sheer tightness of this five-piece group. There’s an energy, a freshness and understanding on display here that is heartily reassuring when we’ve heard the blues rock songbook suffer at the hands of too many lesser lights. The first few seconds of “Heartbreaker” are a call to arms and the addition of cobweb-clearing blues harp and fluid rhythm section to the stew just completes the recipe. Blinding. Musician (The journal of the Musician’s Union)

  • Keith's guitar work is top notch!
    author: Blues In Britain

    “Independence” – Keith Thompson’s Strange Brew Reviewed in Blues In Britain May 2006 This is an album of high-energy rock-blues. The band contains some seasoned players with a rhythm section of Neil Simpson on bass and Roy Adams on drums, both also regular members of the Climax Blues Band. On saxophone is patsy gamble and on keyboards is John Broomhall. For overall style think Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher and Bad Company. Fourteen originals make up the disc. “Crash & Burn” is the title of the uptempo, funky opener which sets the tone for the album, with plenty of guitar work and some sax too to spice up the mix. “Emergency” is a strong song with good lyrics, a familiar guitar riff and a guitar hero finish! The next track, “Blue on Blue” is a funky chugger with good slide guitar and sax. Also liked the following track, “Preachin’ The Blues”, which appears in two versions. The acoustic take has tasty slide and also some harp from Keith. Then there is the full fat band version, a thumping rocker with some great guitar. Two more highlights follow: the powerhouse, “Heartbreaker” and “You Got The Better Of Me” with it’s “Help Me” style riff. “Nothing At All” takes us into Gray Moore blues-rock ballad territory whilst “Young Girl” uses the classic Santana soul-funk riff and a bomping bass line. The title track is a guitar showcase with good hookline riff. The two part “Long Road Home” shows a number of influences. The first part has a Blind Faith, “Can’t Find My Way Home” feel to it while the second part has a Peter Green style guitar intro but then has a “Layla-like” slide segment. The closer uses a Bo Diddley beat and acoustic guitars. Although there are a number of naggingly familiar riffs and rhythms used here, the numbers still come across as fresh and the energy quotent is high. The rhythm section get a big thumbs up and greatly add to the overall sound. Keith’s vocals are fine and of course the guitar work is top notch. This CD can only enhance the guy’s reputation and is recommended to all you blues-rockers out there. Rating 8/10 R. Jim Greaves

  • This superbly put together album is crammed with great modern blues which combin
    author: Toxic Pete's Music Reviews

    D'ya like a bit of slick, contemporary, electric blues? Well Keith Thompson & Strangebrew have just the thing in 'Independence'. This superbly put together album is crammed with great modern blues which combines the precise guitars of Thompson with awesome brass and keyboards and 'as tight as a ducks' rhythm section. D'ya also like value for money? Well, 'Independence' runs at fourteen tracks and times out a just seconds short of an hour. Hey, that's pretty good value. Of course, value doesn't just mean price per track or per hour - the other consideration must be quality. And, 'Independence' covers that aspect too. This entire project is simply spot-on; engineered and produced to the 'n'th degree but without loosing touch with reality or impinging on musical flair - the cool blues vibe rides high throughout and showcases some great talent and experience. The songs have a fresh, vibrant, feel - and that's cool within this particular genre as so often originality is restrained by reliance on 'tried and tested' formulas - but not with Thompson and his band! Thompson and Strangebrew call upon all the nuances and flavours of typical wired-up blues whilst retaining buckets full of interesting twists and turns that ensure 'Independence' doesn't fall into that particular trap . 'Independence', although British through and through carries with it a mildly Americanesque feel. Thompson and Strangebrew lay down awesome and passionate instrumental work that sits easily with the emotionally packed lyrics; both are delivered on a backdrop of gutsy blues roots and jazzy vibes resulting in a stunning piece of work - a quality package from start to finish and from cover to cover.

  • Independence is a faultless, flawless, blinding gem of a blues/rock album.
    author: Blues Matters

    Independence is a faultless, flawless, blinding gem of a blues/rock album. From the opening explosion of Crash ‘n’ Burn to the sultry delta closing of Honest to God, not a second is wasted. The man behind it all is Keith Thompson an experienced and in demand musician he has gathered around him like minded disciples in the guise of Neil Simpson and Roy Adams from The Climax Blues Band, Patsy Gamble from the Little Big Horns and John Broomhall. But it’s Thompson powerhouse singing and guitar riffs that blaze through the album. This is music that comes straight from those halcyon days when the British Blues explosion was giving way to the scruffier, freer, meaner and dirtier rock that was its love child. From there it has also taken the tradition of leaving no stone unturned. The first three tracks weigh in at a meaty 16 minutes plus, combined. Yet they fly by. The acoustic Preachin The Blues and Heartbreaker get the juices flowing. It’s not subtle, sometimes it’s not pretty but it’s certainly alive. Keith Thompson and Strangebrew have done more than just released an album of rock ‘n’ roll that defies superlatives. They have given true fans back the knot in their stomach. Michael Mee

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