You could probably guess exactly who was at the helm of this trio, just from the word “Chatham”. Yes, Billy’s back, and this time he returns to the “blues and poetry” of his Chatham Singers vehicle (their debut, Heavens Journey, was released in 2005), only with less poetry.
Graham Coxon and James Taylor lend a hand to take the 14 tracks further away from the “dustbin mod” assaults Childish has been famous for in recent years. The other personnel remain unchanged; Wolf is still a keen sticksman and wife “Nurse Julie” takes an equal share of the vocal duties. It’s well thought-out, competently-played blues – and that’s not to damn the group with faint praise. It’s just that, as any compendium of Childish’s work will attest, he’s much better at the blues when he plays it solo, on as crackly a format and recording facility as possible. Celebrity guests do not a bluesman make.
Still, it’s better than 90 per cent of modern blues, because Childish remains a true renegade. Listen to Queen Bee, Evil Thing or the thrusting and utterly convincing Upside Mine, and you’ll soon become a convert.
