The Wildcards 3rd studio album 'When The Moon Shines Bright' features brand new material written by band members Vince Lee and Martin Vowles. The quality of songwriting is stronger than ever, clearly showing how the band has evolved since their first album 'On Fire' (2004). The band spent most of 2009 writing and arranging tunes for this new disc, taking time out from their usual busy touring schedule to re-evaluate The Wildcards overall direction and it's paid off! There is a much more up-tempo feel with less emphasis on the straight-ahead blues feel of previous recordings. Be prepared for a rock‘n’roll freak show of dark Cuban rhythms laced with heavy tremelo surf 'n' swamp guitar tones, killer vintage R&B, infectious jungle swing and nitro-powered rockabilly all delivered with trademark Wildcards retro weirdness. With suitably creepy artwork from the twisted mind of Vince Lee sealing the package, you can expect a more than worthy successor to the bands critically acclaimed previous release 'Raising Hell’.

The title track is a relentless, hypnotic rollercoaster of a song written by Vince Lee, all about the effects of the full moon on humanity and the animal kingdom. Written as an observation of all the crazy things and strange situations that occur on a full moon... A grinding de-tuned guitar riff and growling bass drive the groove while chanted lyrics deal with Insanity, jealousy, sexual tension, violence and greed. All the good stuff! 'Welcome to The Snakepit', another Vince Lee original with a seductive Eastern vibe. Vince tells the story of a musicians downfall, while his guitar leads the way like a medicine show snake charmer; an epic recording with a highly descriptive story line written in the classic calypso tradition. Martin Vowles wrote and plays lead guitar on the slightly sinister “Django on acid” instrumental 'Dead Cat Bounce' which would have made the perfect sound track for some weird 50's B-movie! He also wrote the surf guitar influenced 'Out of Control', a bass and drum stand-off which features Al Wallis punching out a particularly nasty groove on the Fender bass locked in tight with Kevin Crowe's signature 1940's style jungle drum stampede. The song explores exhilarating new musical and experimental territories for the band.

All of this is served up with a bunch of obscure vintage tunes such as 'Chocolate Shake' by Duke Ellington, a cool re-working of the original big band arrangement, stripped down to its dirty bare bones, a song with some very dark lyrical undertones... pretty risqué for the 1930's you might say!

The Wildcards invited young female vocalist Becca Langsford to add a new dimension to their sound, and to sing the lead vocal on their version of Ruth Brown's 'Sweet Baby of Mine'. It showcases Becca's awesome vocal talents on this rocking track from the 50's, full of handclaps and Vince's cool doo-wop backing vocals.

The Wildcards with guest vocalist Becca Langsford. Photograph by Stacey De Amicis

Time to shake it all up with a kick-ass rendition of Little Ike's 'She Can Rock'. Vince screams out those Little Richard inspired vocals the only way you can... like he's possessed by Satan himself!. 'Gal From Kokomo' is a West Coast jump blues classic from Roy Brown, fat guitars replace the tenor and baritone saxes of the original version. Guitar Slim's 'Got Sumpin' For You' takes the mood into early 50's rhythm & Blues territory, Vince's outrageous guitar solo mimicking the original's ‘over-amped and too loud in the mix' qualities to chaotic perfection. Time for a little controversy with our last selection, 'Women Are The Root Of All Evil'. An overlooked gem from the 50's by Paul Willams featuring Martin's off the wall guitar fills and a lot of tongue in cheek gospel testifying. Make of it what you will... Praise Them Roots!

Raising Hell
Track Listing

1. Hang Me Out Dry
2. Fools Advice
3. Hell
4. St James Infirmary
5. Lucky, Rich & Happy
6. Run Joe
7. Hellsinki Caravan
8. Drunk
9. Hoodoo Preacher
10. Raising Hell
11. The Future Of The Blues
12. Hard Luck Tale


Click play to hear samples of the album

The Wildcards - Raising Hell - Review
Listen to the entertaining lyrics or just let yourself go to their urgently-swinging, amazingly-accomplished and undeniably-cool blend of jazz, jump jive, blues and rockabilly, given a wickedly ‘voodoo’ edge with Louisiana and Caribbean influences bubbling up all over, and you can’t fail to be bowled over by its startling originality. This well-recorded CD (a worthy successor to fine 2004 debut “On Fire”) captures their thrilling many-layered live sound so well that new delights emerge with every playing and you get the feeling it’s never going to be far from your record player.

Their impeccably empathetic playing is enhanced by great arrangements and a unifying concept feel symbolised by the eerie cover drawing of four leering skeletons playing instruments atop an old-style hearse providing fair warning of the dark delights within. At the album’s greasy heart lies a magnificently woozy version of the blues standard ‘St James Infirmary’ with an electrifying half-way lurch into a musical mayhem worthy of Screaming Jay Hawkins or Louis Jordan. Yes, it’s that good.

With a striking air of brooding menace, lots of dark humour and an entertaining musical and lyrical wit way beyond most bands, the Wildcards are surely poised on the edge of real acclaim. Listen to the sophisticated calypso and Latin touches on the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ ‘Hell’, the deliriously carnivalesque version of Louis Jordan’s ‘Run Joe’, the scarifying ‘Hoodoo Preacher’ (composed by harmonica-player Gary Primich, with whom they toured last year), and the suitably staggery rhythms of the band original ‘Drunk’. There isn’t a weak track on the album, their own material easily matching their well-chosen covers, though they may have saved the best till last with the epic Vince Lee original ‘Hard Luck Tale’, featuring eerie keyboards from guest Paul Harris. A class act.
Dave Kingsbury - Writer for Blues Matters, Blues In Britain.

On Fire!
Track Listing

1. Look What You Done To Me
2. Happy Hour
3. A Little Mixed Up
4 . Can't Keep From Doing Wrong
5. How Do You Feel
6. Change Your Way Of Loving
7. Caravan
8. I'm In A Lowdown Groove
9. Deep Six Boogie
10. Terra Mae
11. I'm On Fire!


Click play to hear samples of the album

*****
"simply the best - and the most exciting blues release of the year!"
Benny Metten, Ctrl. Alt. Country e-zine,
Belgium, Dec 2004

The Wildcards - On Fire!

"...While we're on a winning streak, let's jump the pond and spin the accurately named On Fire! The Wildcards, formed from the wreckage of the exciting UK band the Nightporters, are essentially part Nick Curran, part Red Devils---that is, true jump and blues sounds played with capital-letter Attitude and tons of talent. Great guitar tones, killer beats, and (have I mentioned?) attitude make this self-release disc a real contender."
Blues Revue magazine, USA, issue 94 June/July 2005

"The bands incorporation of rock-a-billy, swing and the Blues certainly brings to mind Reverend Horton Heat, but this British act are far more imaginative - putting together a marvellously diverse collection of songs that show a creative edge all too many UK Blues acts seem to lack. This deserves to achieve big things for the band."
Blues Matters! magazine, UK - issue 24 - Feb 05

"...Such acclaim would have been justified for every track of the eleven on this CD. Music of such richness and virtuosity defies easy categorisation but there is certainly something here for all shades of blues taste. The CD marks the arrival of the Wildcards as the best new prospect in years. Vince Lee is a world-class singer and guitarist, with a band to match. Their place on the European circuit is assured and it would be no surprise to see them causing ripples on the other side of the Big Pond".

***** One of the top recommended blues albums of 2005 *****
Blues In Britain magazine, UK