Sun House - 'Ticket To Fly'

(Independent)

UK rockers Sun House craft good old school blues-based rock n roll straight out of the Seventies maelstrom of swaggering riffs and whiskey-soaked vocals. This tight trio which sees founding members James Ellis (Guitar) and Cam Meek (Drums) joined by new vocalist Tomas Baptista create a big bombastic sound that Page & Plant would be proud to have influenced! Written entirely in lockdown ‘Ticket To Fly’ definitely sounds like it’s benefitted from the extra time the band have had to write, record and tinker with their creations. This is a surprisingly high-quality album considering it’s a low-key Indie release.

There is something quintessentially British sounding about Sun House and the Led Zeppelin influence is crystal clear in many ways, from the bombastic guitar riffs to the evocative vocal lines. I do hear some very early Aerosmith in the mix as well, especially in the more commercial side of the song writing – were’ talking seventies era Aerosmith here, not the juggernaut they became in the late Eighties.

It’s a very retro sounding album, the songs are deeply entrenched in that seventies rock vibe. Whether that’s a good thing or not is of course dependent on the listener, they aren’t pushing the boundaries of the genre or delivering a revelatory new sound experience. They do however deliver the traditional Classic Rock goods to an extremely high standard and should make the average Classic Rock fan go weak at the knees. I do fear as an indie release they may fly under the radar without a label’s backing or a higher profile promotional campaign. The people who love Greta Van Fleet would adore these guys and they really should be CR media/press darlings!

The songs exude lots of energy and swagger which to me would indicate these songs will be real barn stormers on the live stage! On the whole the songs are kept tight and punchy making the songs hit you strongly one after the other as you listen to the album through. These songs never outstay their welcome and there is no unnecessary self-indulgent musicianship plumping songs out into ten-minute epic messes which is so prevalent and off putting in this genre currently.

Classic Rock fans should make it their business to check out Sun House as ‘Ticket To Ride’ is a cut above the other similar releases out there right now!

8/10

Essential Track - 'Take My Money'

Review By Woody