Mama Roux

Ralph's always on the lookout for something a bit different musically and was more than pleasantly surprised when he stumbled across new Manchester band Mama Roux.  They're a sublime soul/jazz/blues fusion comprised of.....
  
Tallulah Anton on vocals, Jack Delaney - Guitar, John Bergin - Guitar, M.Alexander Robinson - Bass and Nicolas Williams on Drums/Percussion.




There's the obvious comparisons to be draw vocally between Tallulah's vocals and Amy Winehouse ('You Know I'm No Good especially) and I find Tallulah to be smoother and just as listenable.  'Reach Out is a fine example of her vocal benefiting from the twin guitar sound Mama Roux enjoy.









'Fire' sticks in your head with some more classy guitar work giving a bit of a rock edge to the track.  This'll be a firm favourite at gigs and with the chance to see Mama Roux live at Kraak in Manchester looming on the 25th of January with The Velocets it's one I'll be paying particular attention to.










'Pointless' is an altogether smoother, sexier track, well suited for radio play.  Laid back acoustic guitar and percussion with some Sade-esque vocalising...one for sitting with a beer, headphones on listening to them on BBC Introducing in the summer sunshine on a lazy Sunday afternoon.










They're on the line-up for Nottingham's Deerstock Festival in July and the Headlander Festival  Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd of June at the Stockport RUFC ground and hopefully news of more gigs to follow soon.....watch this space.  In the meantime they feature on the playlist of A Little Bit Louder and their track 'Fire' has been included on the onlinefestival.com album 'Indie-vidual' due to be released soon.

Seriously?

One allegedly knowledgeable 'muso' with a working class chip on his shoulder and an upper-middle class existence seemed to think they were less 'Authentic Manchester Soul' than Misha B (yeah I had to think for a minute before remembering she was lucky enough to get a break on the X Factor) but on having a look at Misha B's latest release she's more poptastic than soulful nowadays and supported the dreadful Nikki Minage on a tour last year.....I rest my case.