Label: Repertoire Records (West Germany), RR 4041-C
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock
Country: The Hague, Netherlands
Time: 45:18
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 258 Mb
Formed
in 1967, Shocking Blue were an influential Dutch rock band from The
Hague. Center stage to the groups popularity was lead singer Mariska
Veres, whose powerful, exotic vocals transcended the group from a merely
superb psychedelic rock group to something incredibly special. 1969's
At Home is the groups best known release, often confused for a debut but
in fact their second album.
Though it is an incredible call to make
it is no far stretch to say At Home is one of the greatest rock albums
of the era. Shocking Blue is rarely spoken of in the same breath as say,
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones (the bands output just wasn't as
longlasting and all encompassing as these groups managed to be) but they
ended up scoring a gigantic hit with Venus (everybody has heard at
least one cover of it) and writing at least two strongly underrated
albums along the way.
At Home brings across a sense of the exuberant
energy of the 60's, the band sounding completely fresh despite an
archaic production quality. Musically, it feels quite varied though the
bulk of tracks consist of the same instruments being used (guitar, bass,
piano). With clever, satisfying arrangements that range from fun,
mid-paced rockers (Boll Weevil, Love Machine, California Here I Come,
Harley Davidson), to slower, downtempo affairs (I'll Write Your Name
Through The Fire, I'm Your Woman) to offbeat, psychadelic experiments
(Acka Raga, Love Buzz) the group always keeps an infectious rhythm
happening. Throwing enough curveballs to the listener through guitarist
Robbie van Leeuwen's electrifying leads and fills, the band never fails
to be entertaining though the entire duration of At Home. Then there is
Mariska Veres to deal with.
Quite simply, she is sensational.
Throughout much of the album she has a playful presence, her powerful
voice full of a unique passion which perfectly compliments the energetic
sounds of the band. However, it is her vocal delivery on tracks such as
I'll Write Your Name Through The Fire, Long And Lonesome Road and
California Here I Come which creates something so achingly right
expressing it into words could do it no justice. A perfect marriage is
made between the music and vocals, Veres providing an unmatched heart
and soul to Shocking Blue that would be sorely lacking otherwise.
At
Home never lets up, from start to finish it is a completely engaging
60's rock album that entertains in the best way possible. Any aficionado
of this particular era would do well to check it out, as well as it's
follow-up Scorpios Dance.
(sputnikmusic.com/review/30644/Shocking-Blue-At-Home/)
01. Boll Weevil (02:42)
02. I'll Write Your Name Through The Fire (02:58)
03. Acka Raga (03:07)
04. Love Machine (03:20)
05. I'm A Woman (03:02)
06. Venus (03:07)
07. California Here I Come (03:16)
08. Poor Boy (02:28)
09. Long And Lonesome Road (02:49)
10. Love Buzz (03:45)
11. The Butterfly And I (04:04)
12. Harley Davidson (02:40)
13. Fireball Of Love (03:03)
14. Hot Sand (02:40)
15. Wild Wind (02:11)
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