Hunters Moon is the latest album by Alan Claytons long running band The Dirty Strangers who've been a well kept secret, as one of the greatest rock & Roll bands on the circuit for 40 years now, with a revolving membership policy that includes on this album the final recordings with Scott Mulvey, who played on 4 songs before he passed away on Keyboards, Manager turned Bass maestro Cliff Weekes, Pip Mailing on Drums, Guy Griffin on Guitar both from The Quireboys, The other main drummer on the album is Laurence Fox, son of original Dirty Paul Fox, and returning on Guitar is John Rollasen who was in the line-up that included Keith Richards, one of whose guitars features on this album. Last but not least is an appearance also on Drums from the bands youngest member Holly Clayton 13 years old and already rocking out.
Hunters Moon rip roars out of the speakers, like a mid-70's Rolling Stones blues rocker, with the guitars meshing, as Alan Clayton's vocals come in to tell us all about that Hunters Moon, as they are hiding away trying to keep out of trouble, while the drums sound like they might fall apart but are still spot on.
La La la I Couldn't Care Less is obviously all about the bands attitude to being told they can't do something, as they will always do what they want, as the bluesy guitars punctuate the insults and barbs being thrown the way of the foolish person trying to take them off with a chorus that's perfect for a gang style sing along underpinned by Holly Claytons forceful drumming.
Pirates Don't Get Pensions is already a live favorite, this version has a delicious piano line underneath the guitars, making clear how thankful Alan is to have some support from his wife Jackie, as with all his music biz shenanigans don't come with an index linked pension plan, but damn you have a lot more fun this way, a spry guitar solo makes clear.
My Girls A Getaway Driver is the super speedy first single off the album, it feels like you've just done a handbrake turn, while burning rubber down the Uxbridge Road, on this super catchy song, suped up and ready to rumble, as the guitars flash by, fired up on high octane fuel, you have to sing along with them, you won't be able to help it..
Cell Block No 5 album mix has gentle slide guitar while managing to sound like one of the late era Chas & Dave songs full of regret for what's gone down and how you've ended up just how your sitting in Cell Block No 5 as the barrel house piano comes in against the glossy slide guitar to do battle against the kraken eating away at Alan whose fumbling with his words, struggling towards freedom once more.
T'Troublemaker has been in the live set a while, its low slung, as all the squiggly lines from the guitar, over the rumbling bass, allow Alan to tell us all the reasons he can't keep away from that two timing Troublemaker, how he'll get his revenge, the vocals sound suitably bruised, full of hurt and make clear he's had just about enough of all the games.
Slap Bang is pure unadulterated blues rock of the highest quality, with sneered vocals throwing barbs at someone, who through their own endeavors has ended up Slap Bang in the middle of no man's land, deep in a chasm of there own making, as Alan takes delight in your downfall.
State Of Affair is a hymn to someone whose copped a deaf'un to everything that's going down around them, as they just seem to not care, they are being watched for their next wrong move, as the piano weaves through the guitars flying all over the place.
They then re-work the classic Gold Cortina into less of a muscle car, more of a cruising mobile, come lemon special, this takes it back to the days of roaring around Shepherds Bush on the pull, to impress anyone who likes the glint in the eye of a man with tasty go faster stripes on his Gold Cortina.
Stay For A Little While is a great blues based love song for the sort of woman whose name you'd prefer not to know, as you ask her to stay for a little while, before turning the tables and causing havoc in a louche Small Faces kinda way.
The album closes with Anything You Say an almost acoustic ballad for another girl they have the odd issue with on the honesty front, as they try to get on with being good lovers and friends, putting aside all the petty differences.
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