Albany Down
Album: Not Over Yet
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.albanydown.co.uk

"Not Over Yet" is twelve tracks of unadulterated blues rock that clocks in at just a little under the hour. During that length of time, Albany Down, hit most of the regular blues themes, mainly women that have come and gone, before ending with a seven minute tribute to the hard graft of the working man.

Ok, that's a little unfair, there is more to "Not Over Yet" than running the gamut of blues clichés, there are definitely places on the album where Albany Down stamp a distinctive style across a track, times where you feel they are being truer to themselves than they are to the genre and naturally it's those moments that are not only stronger, but also feel like blues rock has a proper niche with their name on it.

That's not to say that they are particularly weak elsewhere, they definitely know what they are doing and are good at it, but again so are a lot of blues bands. Songs like "My Lucky Streak" and "Travelling Blues" have got some great riffs and hooks, they could shake the most jaded out of a state of torpor, but ultimately I don't think they are distinctive enough to sustain the long game.

"Not Over Yet", is a good album, albeit one from a band that is struggling to find their own identity, their own place and at times seem to be content with just doing what they do well. I'm sure it'll sustain them and sustain them quite well, but if they want to push on to the next level, they need to find that something that makes them Albany Down.

Neil King