The
Candymakers – S/T (Independent)
Leaning on the traditions of ‘60s Motown and Stax,
together with the classic groove bands of the 1970s, The Candymakers make no
secret of their desire to have some fun while making their music, and in turn,
share as much of the joy as they can with their audience. I imagine live on
stage, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, the Davenport, Iowa six-piece are
damn near irresistible. It’s to their eternal credit that they’ve managed to
transfer all that bustling energy into studio recordings, and their songs leap
from the speakers like timeless productions by Frank Wilson and Steve Cropper.
At the moment the blues crowd have adopted them as
their own, and they’re beginning to win awards in that category, though for me,
it’s their soul side that marks them out from the crowd. Tracks like “Yet to Begin” and “No Music No
Party” are bonafide floor fillers, and in Alan Sweet they’ve a singer
with a voice which is powerful and utterly convincing. Which isn’t to dismiss
their other attributes. When they err towards rock and blues, the remarkable “Mirror Don't Lie” is a prime example, they can be just
as persuasive, and guitarist Bret Dale absolutely shines in this setting.
Tony S.
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