The KingmiXers from Canada describe themselves as "seasoned professionals" which is a gentle way of saying that they are not in the first flush of youth.
Gary Preston (vocals, harmonica, piano) and Anita Bronkowski (bass, drums,piano) also perform as a duo but here they are joined by David Schade on guitar and vocals.
They mix Delta and Chicago blues, a couple of jazzy instrumentals and some jump swing for good measure. It's all played in a relaxed and, frankly, fairly bland manner. Imagine an easy listening version of Cream and you'll get the idea.
A lacklustre cover of Ray Charles' What'd I Say only emphasises they are a band more at home at some polite social function rather than in a sweaty night club
Southern Train, about the train from New Orleans to Memphis, the humourous Granny's At The Wheel ("going 30 in the fast lane")
and Belgian Beer Boogie (which I confess I initially misheard as 'belchin' beer boogie!') all add to the impression that light entertainment is their primary goal.
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The title track ,featuring spoken word vocals over a piano melody, is a melancholy lament about heading for a "fool's paradise" which is tailor-made for cocktail drinkers in a lounge bar.
With other titles like Sittin'On My Porch, Feel Like Lovin' and Gotta Good Woman you have a pretty good idea of how these will sound before pressing the play button.
It's this predictability that makes this an inoffensive but ultimately fairly dull record.
Gary Preston's website
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