Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: California Breed
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2014
Running time: 51:43
Rating: 4.5/5
After Black Country Communion, California Breed carry the torch. The deep mourning is held back and lives on. In a new musical body. Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham continue down the road together with a new guitarist! 23-year-old Andrew Watt. They could both be his dad, Hughes even his grandfather. After the end of the partnership with Joe Bonamasso, a story that didn’t exactly finish on a pretty note, since Hughes was seriously fuming when his buddy suddenly left him hanging, saying his solo career was the priority, things worked out happily for Hughes and Bonham after the inevitable breakup of Black Country Communion.
A year ago, Hughes found himself at an exhibition of Julian Lennon’s photographs in New York. Julian Lennon, the son of famous Beatle John, with no particular agenda and completely by chance, introduced Hughes to Watt at that exhibition, who was also among those present, saying: »You have to meet this kid, he’s the most fantastic guitarist I know!« A few days later Andrew Watt was already visiting Hughes at his home in Hollywood and the two started a »trial jam«. The chemistry was born on the spot, and the song Chemical Rain came out of it right away.
Because Watt is deeply inspired by Jimmy Page’s (Led Zeppelin) approach to crafting guitar phrases, and because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – we’re talking about Jason Bonham, son of the legendary »Bonzo« (Led Zeppelin) – California Breed sound as dark, black and raw as they possibly can. All the noise and energy that get unleashed without restraint in the spirit of a lightning-fast blues rock tornado across the album »California Breed« carry quite a few parallels with Led Zeppelin (Scars, Chemical Rain, opener The Way). All of it, of course, with the liveliness of material played on the principle of a live-in-the-studio jam. It should also be added that the album has a noticeably modern sonic contour, as well as some modern songwriting levers. A very successful and likeable »crossbreed« of this kind is, for example, the song Spit You Out, which you could describe as a head-on collision of the Rolling Stones and classic Queens of the Stone Age. The sonic authenticity and huge organic feel of this album can win quite a bit of sympathy among grunge fans too (closer Breathe)! The chorus of Midnight Oil calls up parallels with the pioneering ideas of both Grand Funk Railorad and The Rolling Stones. An outstanding »musical cumulus«
»California Breed« is an album that gets torn up and blown apart from end to end by raw bristling energy. The Hughes and Bonham rhythm section is »groovy« and thick, funk-eyed at the »peaks« (which is no surprise or stranger to Glenn Hughes’ other artistic exploits), untamed and cheeky, and literally unstoppable in its playing. The Way, Sweet Tea, The Grey, Strong revel in an energetic hurricane as they roll in roaring in all their rawness! These are the high points of the energetic eruption unleashed by this high-octane album, backed by touches of blues and soul. In any case, the recognizable Black Country Communion stance is kept throughout the album, so B.C.C. fans will take it as their own in no time!
Glenn Hughes remains incredible at his age. The more years he piles onto his shoulders, the cheekier and more mischievous this musician gets. The saying goes for him anyway that a black soul lives under his white skin. He remains an exceptional vocal acrobat, capable of pulling off absolutely anything with untouchable vocal flexibility and a (still=breathtaking vocal range. With his doctrine of the rock ‘n’ roll vocalist, Glenn Hughes set new standards in the rock universe that still haven’t been surpassed, when you look for a singer who could come close to him in one way or another. On »California Breed« too, Mr. Glenn Hughes remains »the voice of rock ‘n’ roll« from head to toe. Hughes is still developing exceptional vocal power that instantly enchants with its sincerity, and above all enchants the listener at the moments that call for sophistication! Such are, for example, Invisible and All Falls Down. Hughes is one of the album’s main melody generators, and with his feel for building melodic vocal lines, which he abruptly switches to from improvisational acrobatics, he makes sure the one-dimensional bluntness of the guitar phrases doesn’t wear out its welcome over the album’s 12 tracks.
The fat, »grooved«, optimally contrasted, fiery-hot sound of the album, commanded by the outstanding vocal performance of the one and only Glenn Hughes, brings to market a record that is a thoroughly worthy successor to the Black Country Communion discography, and California Breed credibly fill the gap that opened up with the breakup of B.C.C. In this regard Hughes and Bonham are experiencing an artistic rebirth, a new creative blossoming, because young Andrew Watt, with the exceptional talents laid in his cradle, is fresh and hungry to prove himself. At 23, this young master of big guitar phrases is certainly a worldwide rock ‘n’ roll phenomenon, one who delights in every single moment of the guitar craft on display on »California Breed«.
An album you simply have to surrender to, letting its untamed »live« vibe lead you wherever it wants. Just like we’re kind of used to with Glenn Hughes, but with the difference that the seasoned man gets more mature and wise year after year, and so manages to captivate even more effectively with his giant vocal charisma. »California Breed« is thus the beginning of yet another beautiful, authentic and unblemished rock ‘n’ roll story, one that will thrill everyone looking for unbridled, raw rock energy, with no makeup and no studio »beautifiers«. Just the authenticity of playing »first take«, with the kinetics of a spontaneous cut loose. Serve it hot!
Lineup
Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass guitar
Jason Bonham – drums
Andrew Watt – guitar
Production
Dave Cobb
Track list
1. The Way
2. Sweet Tea
3. Chemical Rain
4. Midnight Oil
5. All Falls Down
6. The Grey
7. Days They Come
8. Spit You Out
9. Strong
10. Invisible
11. Scars
12. Breathe
