Written by: Paul Monkhouse
Band:
Album Title:
Release Date:
DeWolff
Muscle Shoals
6th December 2024
Now into their 17th year, Dutch trio DeWolff have been nothing but creative and hardworking, their output regular and increasingly impressive. Known primarily for their own brand of psychedelic blues rock, new album Muscle Shoals sees them heading more into soulful territory and it’s something that’s fitted them like a hand in a velvet glove. Comprising brothers Pablo van de Poel on vocals and guitar and Luka on drums, along with Hammond player Robin Piso, the outfit have kept the same line-up throughout the years and as such, have the bearing of a set of musicians totally in tune with each other. With its warm and sympathetic production, the three have really dug deep and the results are something that absolutely oozes with quality and class.
Imbued with their usual sense of the period, Muscle Shoals could have been hewn directly from anytime between the late ’60s through to the mid ’70s, the 13 tracks a perfect slice of grooving highs and soulful lows. Full of sizzles, stomps and swoons, there’s an interesting and addictive atmosphere and for those who seek a little warmth and sunshine in the fast-approaching Winter months this is just what the doctor ordered. On top of this, the trio have mastered the art of giving everything a fuller sound than should really be expected from such a tight outfit, their playing fluid and filling the space with ease. Typifying this tight but loose approach, each number has a natural flow that focusses on feel rather than some of the clinical offerings by other artists that appear to take a cookie cutter approach where soul goes. These boys get that groove and because of this the whole is elevated much higher, footprints of authenticity clearly marked.
From the swing of opener In Love onwards it’s impossible not to move your feet and second number Natural Woman really ups the ante as the big and ballsy funk sounds like The Allmans jamming with Prince. Highlights come thick and fast, the swampy drive of Ophelia and slow smoky swing of Let’s Stay Together thrill, the honky tonk romp of Truce and bouncing blues of Book of Life made for good times. The whole is an ultra-cool smorgasbord, but things reach its climax with the lengthy and skittering epic Snowbird, the number arguably the finest thing they’ve ever done. Ending on a sweet and atmospheric note of the sound of cicadas, Muscle Shoals is the display of a band confident in their abilities and material, De Wolff climbing to their highest peak yet. As towering as the album is, with this outfit the only way continues to be up.
Track Listing
1. In Love
2. Natural Woman
3. Out On The Town
4. Let’s Stay Together
5. Ophelia
6. Truce
7. Hard To Make A Buck
8. Book of Life
9. Winner (When it Comes to Losing)
10. Fools & Horses
11. Snowbird
12. Ships In The Night
13. Cicada Serenade