For those loving a heavy dose of nostalgia, Amanda Brown and The Common Ears produce beautifully crafted jazz and blues that would not seem out of place in a prohibition speakeasy.
Their six track album Medicinal Biscuit may differ greatly from the majority of music currently on offer, but it is an intriguing offering. The vocals are sweet and eminently suitable for the music.
The band have kept things strictly retro rather than fusing bluesy jazz with other musical styles. This makes it pure and surprisingly pleasing. It is melodious and easy on the ear. ‘Spinning Top’ has all the right ingredients for a traditional Jazz track, with some fine brass. The blues tracks such as ‘Daddy Let Me Lay It On You’ have a suitably sensual feel. The violin on tracks like ‘Sweet Notes’ is lovely.
With the wave of nostalgia that has seen ‘La La Land’ become such a hit at the cinema, Medicinal Biscuit might have hit the scene at just the right time. Where it fits into the modern music scene is less clear. However, for a niche traditional jazz audience, it would be hard to find a more pleasing band.
You can listen to and download the EP ‘Medicinal Biscuit’ on Bandcamp here.
Roxy Gillespie
