Nine Below Zero - Chilled (2002)

Tracklist

01. I Should Have Left It Up to You
02. Why Don't You Try Me Tonight
03. Spanish Harlem
04. Why Can't We Be What We Want to Be
05. Egg on My Face
06. You Don't Love Me
07. Loaded Gun
08. Ballad of Dombóvàr
09. White Boys Lost in the Blues
10. Bring It on Home to Me
11. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
12. One Foot in Heaven, One Foot in Hell
13. Helen


If you haven't yet had the opportunity to experience the modern blues rock sound of British band Nine Below Zero then this album from Zed Records is as good a place to start as any.

Formed around founding member vocalist/guitarist Dennis Greaves and vocalist/harmonica player Mark Feltham along with a couple of Rory Gallagher's ex-band mates bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Brendan O'Neil this lineup has been firing on all cylinders and tearing up stages everywhere with their high octane rock and blues assault since 1990.

Chilled marked the return of Feltham and the group surprisingly opted to go for a more laid back, acoustic feel on this record so in essence this album is unlike any other in their back catalogue. Not only is it great to have Feltham back in the fold once again sharing the lead vox with Greaves and blowing serious harp, but the vibe is remarkably loose all round on this sizzling collection of originals and covers. Right from the opening number "I Should Have Left It Up To You" which features an absolutely moving string arrangement that perfectly complements the slow burning guitar soloing from Greaves and Feltham's harmonica accents, you know this is going to be a special record indeed. The band follows this up with a sweet version of "Why Don't You Try Me Tonight" in which Feltham and Greaves effortlessly share the lead vocal duties as guest guitarist Robbie McIntosh fires off some tasty sounding slide work. From there it's off into a sublime, instrumental run through of the old Lieber/ Spector song "Spanish Harlem", which turns out to be a real showcase for Feltham to blow some of his trademark harmonica. There are simply no throw away tracks to be found on Chilled as the band deftly injects some of the strongest self penned songs of their career with "Why Can't We Be What We Want To Be", "Ballad Of Dombovar" and "One Foot In Heaven, One Foot In Hell" and seamlessly blends them with spot on, soulful versions of "Bring It On Home To Me" and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).

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