SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLITZ VEGA – NORTHERN GENTLEMAN

BLITZ VEGA
NORTHERN GENTLEMAN
FUTURESONIC RECORDS/CEN/THE ORCHARD

On May 19, 2023, the world lost Andy Rourke. He was a remarkably talented bass player and DJ. He was also working with KAV (Kav Sandu, the former guitarist for Happy Mondays) in a band known as Blitz Vega.  Also in the band are Asa Brown (keyboards / backing vocals), Thom Arizmendi (guitar), Greg Gent (guitar / backing vocals), Craig Eriksson (drums). It seems that Blitz Vega has been working on this album for some time, and some of the songs have previously appeared as singles.

That does not take away from the album at all. In fact, it is great to have the singles collected to form a cohesive album. The songs fit together nicely, and the end result is a very strong album. The music is diverse throughout the entire album, and this makes for a great listening experience. From the opening track, “Disconnected”, featuring  the 1980s jangling guitars and Rourke’s trademark melodic bassline, to the closing track, hard driving “Pass The Gun” (which makes great use of scratching), Northern Gentlemen takes the listener on a ride.

KAV’s vocals are perfect for the music and lyrically, it is not always easy listening. KAV writes strong, descriptive lyrics that create an image in the head as the music plays. “L.A. Vampire” is a great example. This is the gritty side of the glitzy city, perhaps the side one does not want to be caught in, especially late at night. Whereas “Big Nose” is angry yet contains a lot of humour. The hard driving music and strong vocal performance from KAV certainly helps.

Rourke and KAV working and writing together was a very strong collaboration. The band adds a great deal, as the music is expertly played. The album may have taken a long time, but the wait was well worth it. There are strong melodies, such as “Strong Forever”, which features Johnny Marr, marking the first time the two ex-Smiths members played together. Marr’s guitar stands out, but it is the strength of the song that makes it so wonderful. It really does move one as the song plays out. There are also some heavy dance sounds found on the album (“Lost Myself”) and even straight-ahead rockers.

Overall, it is the music and production. These songs are heavy, at times, but there is still that sense of melody and structure. In fact, all the songs come together in a very complimentary way, as if they were recorded in one session. Sure, some of these have been singles, but listening to the album from beginning to end, one would never hear a compilation but a solid album. Blitz Vega has put together a fantastic album. Northern Gentlemen is also an incredible debut. There is so much to discover throughout the album. It is an adventure each time it hits the turntable.

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