Steamhammer - Mark II

Led by singer Kieran White and guitarist Martin Pugh, Steamhammer contrived to produce an eclectic 10-song set mixing blues-rock with elements of psych and prog in the early Chicago vein. This is evident from the off with the sax bursts and hippie vocals of Supposed To Be Free, while florid backing vocals and harpsichord mark out Johnny Carl Morton, before the Spanish guitar flourishes of Sunset Close. Of which, there’s also plenty of sturdy twanging, roadhouse-style, on the Canned Heat-like Contemporary Chick Con Song and others, before Turn Around adds flute and 6/8 For Amiran goes all Tull. Another Travelling Tune meanders for 16 minutes of all-hands interplay, while four bonuses from two 45s include more harmonica-laden boogie, smoky jazz-blues and prog-psych.