BLAKE SABAN 3 – CITY OF LIFE

It’s good to know that Tamworth doesn’t just draw in talented musicians – it also produces them. While having grown up in Tamworth, Blake Saban 3 was birthed out of the city’s famous Country Music Festival, and is where they fittingly released their debut album City of Light earlier this year. Band members Blake Saban, Glendon Finlay (on ‘Drumcussion’) and Beau Baker make no qualms in wearing their Tamworth heart on their sleeve, and City of Life is a directly dedicated homage to the Golden Guitar-ed city. Nestled in the third spot of the album, title track begins with unidentified swirling sounds and a softly distant drum beat which the same sort of anticipation found in a U2 track. Pass to a steel guitar riff over the same rolling toms from the introduction and lyrics such as ‘nothing compares to the feeling I get when I see the hills,  I’m home, I’m Tamworth-bound’. Add in a couple of whooshing cymbal swipes and an uplifting, rock middle chorus built on an unleashed drum kit, face-scrunching electric guitar wails topped with beautifully strained male harmonies and I think we’ve found the Tamworth City anthem. The percussive clave syncopation on the come-down of this epic midpoint is a nice touch too.

Tamworth-pride aside, City Of Lights is an exciting and mature roots/rock album – you’d never guess there were only three musicians creating such a big, slick sound. The unadulterated power and agility of Baker’s slide guitar gives a classic blues edge, while the growl of Saban’s voice bends nicely off the nicely of the folk rock energy and powerful ‘drumcussion’. If you like the John Butler Trio, you’ll love this.

3.5/5