INDIGENOUS ~ Indigenous Silvertone Records

Native American blues-rock group Indigenous are back with their fifth national recording. Built around the Stevie Ray Vaughan-like vocals of singer/guitarist Mato Nanji the band flow from Hendirx inspired axioms to Robin Trower fused ‘70s hard rock. Keeping the format simple with their Silvertone debut the foursome plant their feet firmly in the blues yet allow the record to grow in different directions. “C’mon Suzie” sets the tone with a decidedly harder edge. Backed by his brother Pte (bass) and cousin Horse (percussion) along with his sister Wanbdi (drums/vocals), Nanji finds a workable groove quickly and makes certain you don’t forget it.

“You Turn My World Around” scorches for a second burn with a toughened up bass line and some very proud guitar. “What You Do To Me” becomes an anthum of sorts complete with a fist in the air chorus and spine chilling leads. Nanji’s husky vocals embrace the slower plod of “Hold On” sounding remarkably like Hendrix especially in his “Hey Baby” side notes. The band catch their breath with “Be Right There” where the strum of the acoustic guitar swirls around the song as with a powerful presence.

Production was done by the British Davey Brothers, which assists the recording in creating a thick sonic soup and a gutsy soundwall. The basic tracks were done live, giving the performance a delightful spark as heard on “Movin’ On,” a Bad Company meets SRV shaker, the shuffle of “Take Some Time” and the Jimmy Reed cover “Shame, Shame, Shame.” Coming into their own as blues-rock stars the band achieve a unique moment in “I Wonder” that is particularly hot and “Monkeyshuffle” which closes out the CD with a tasty little swagger.

Website: Indigenous

Review by Todd Smith http://www.thecutting-edge.net/