Review – Charlie Hightone & The Rock-It’s
Haunted Rhythm Vol. 1
★★★★☆

With regular live performances and ‘real life’ often getting in the way, it’s no surprise that Charlie Hightone & The Rock-It’s back catalogue has been somewhat erratic over the past 21 years. It makes perfect sense then that their new album Haunted Rhythm should be released in the unconventional format of a trilogy of 7” EPs.

This first volume features all-new compositions and between them they offer ample opportunity to bop, stroll and jive in equal measure.

The title track has a real hillbilly feel and Charlie’s unique whoopin’ and hollerin’ singing style is right at the forefront with additional whistles, growls and yelps thrown in for good measure. The country stompin’ beat is relentless and allows Charlie to really let rip with a very excitable performance. Little Angel has a different vibe altogether with its Latin influences and Charlie’s plaintive but powerful wailing.

Individual Brand Of Rock’n’Roll

This song has a real simmering feel complemented with fantastic backing vocals from talented harmonisers The Velvet Candles. Smokie Ol’ Track gets us back in raw rockabilly territory with a thumping double bass, stripped-back drum sound and some driving guitar offering another platform for Charlie’s highly individual vocals.

Meanwhile, Canción De Amor brings things to a conclusion with undoubtedly the wildest track on the whole platter, helped in no small way by frantic piano bashing and a seriously honking sax that both seem to drive everyone else in the band to new levels of intensity.

Overall, this is a nicely packaged release which offers a fine illustration of the variety of styles that the band combine to create their own individual brand of rock’n’roll.

With Haunted Rhythm Vol. 2 on the way early in 2025 this is an unusual way to release an album but it beats waiting around for new material to appear and maybe other acts, with similarly hectic schedules, might consider this as a way forward.

Words By Craig Brackenridge

To order visit Sleazy Records here

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