Kentucky
Knife Fight – Hush Hush (Independent)
The magnificently monikered Kentucky Knife Fight have
earned themselves an enviable reputation in their hometown of St. Louis,
playing their twangy punk-blues to enthusiastic audiences at their own headline
shows and in support of touring national acts - not that you’d necessarily want
to follow them on stage.
On “Hush Hush”, their second long-player, they
continue to mix dark country with even darker blues, and bring to mind bands
like Gun Club, Gallon Drunk and Dream City Film Club, together with songwriters
such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits. That’s good company to keep, and Kentucky
Knife Fight show more than enough promise to hold their heads up amongst those esteemed
names.
Vocalist and wordsmith Jason Holler (the band write
the music) delivers his lyrics with a dirty, unctuous snarl, whilst his
bandmates whip up a boogie storm or keep it slow and sleazy. Lead single “Misshapen Love” definitely falls into the former camp.
It’s brazen soulfulness hovers between the garage and the dancefloor, just so
long as there’s a wall to bounce off. “Love the Lonely”
arrives on a slow train before releasing the brakes, and on the splendid title
track, the entire band take the opportunity to showboat, but it’s a cracking
song with a stuttering rhythm and post-punk feel, and might just be the best
thing on a consistently fine album.
Phil S.
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