Rock
Self Release
Released – November 8th 2024
Line Up:
Toby Jepson – guitars, all vocals, Pro Tools programming and percussion
Dave Kemp – all keys, saxophone, and horn arrangements
Matthew Eldridge – drums
Chris Blanden – bass, cello
Jason Barwick – lead electric guitars
Sam Wood – additional guitars
Strings arranged and performed by George Hall
Additional Hammond organ – George Hall
Horns section – Dave Kemp (saxophone), Stuart Wilkinson (trombone), Ian Chalk (trumpet)
Banjo performed by Leon Hunt
Tracklist:
1 – Introduction
2 – Alone With You
3 – Sweet Smell Of Success
4 – What Will It Take
5 – Throw It Away
6 – One Track Mind
7 – The one Turns Out The Light
It’s been a minute since Toby Jepson has released any new music but let me tell you it’s been worth the wait. Let’s just look at the guys CV. International success with Little Angels who burned bright before it all went ‘tits up’ (Toby’s words not mine) a raft of quality solo releases before he went into production then decided to join both Dio’s Disciples and Gun for shits n giggles before realising, he still had something to say with the awesome Wayward Sons. Toby’s been through a bit of a time recently, but he’s come out the other side relatively intact and with a renewed sense of purpose as these songs will attest. This is the first of a trio of releases which amount to 20 brand new songs. Anything that he had hanging around was deleted, ditched and burnt, so all 20 songs are fresh out of the packet and don’t be surprised to be surprised!
Kicking off with a heartfelt introduction which gets us to the edgy punk n roll of ‘Alone With You’ which gets right to the point just like a blunt Yorkshireman (I’ll give him this seeing as he moved to Scarbados when he was four and he was actually born in Lincolnshire). It moves and grooves on a punchy rhythm and simple riff then we get a kind of new wave stomp with ‘Sweet Smell Of Success’ which has one of those catchy melody lines and chorus’s that Jepson creates in his sleep or in his dressing gown and slippers at least. Spoiler alert there’s some real brass on this and a quirky almost Ian Dury like jazzy sax solo. We get some pure sixties pop on ‘What Will It Take’ which is full of real strings and Toby going full on blue-eyed Northern Soul. ‘Throw It Away’ brings back that edgy new wave feel and could been off any of the Motors, The Jags, The Vapours or The Knack before more soul from the North on ‘One Track Mind’. What do we get on the final cut, ‘The One Turns Out The Light’ well, it’s a whole lotta country licks, some Strawbs like melodies and some late Beatles swirling around for good measure.
I spoke to Toby recently and I can tell is very proud of these and the other songs which are soon to be released. If this is a taster – I want more. Toby has nothing to prove but here he has proved yet again what a truly great songwriter he is. There’s no fat on these tunes everything is where it’s supposed to be, and I think we can rejoice that Toby Jepson is back in the game. Absolutely superb, can’t wait for the rest. By the way this is only available through his website – www.tobyjepsonoffical.com.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 10/10
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