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Poison Rain is an EP released recently by Skelmersdale based singer/songwriter Andy Stonier. I was invited to offer up my thoughts on the four song release and jumped at the chance to discover some new music.
Andy is a musician with tons of experience under his belt having gigged off and on throughout many years and, from listening to his music on offer, it shows. His music genre of choice is mainly acoustic blues rock and he has taken many influences to mould his own performance.
To start the EP off we are given Poison Rain the song for which the release is named after. The intro sets the tone for the song instantly with sultry acoustic guitar with the occasional riff similar to the melody found in Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher. Andy then takes us through the verse with a soulful vocal performance. When the chorus and bridge comes about we are treated to Andy's powerful range, which strikes a similar resemblance to Bobby Kimball's (front-man of Toto) vocals who was renowned for his soulful blues voice, which is saying something. A strong start to the EP and sets the tone for whats to follow
No Saint comes next which further showcases Andy's vocal prowess and range as he riffs through the verses and chorus. Accompanied by trumpets and an unusual beat timing the song ensures you are never one looking to skip the track. Couple this with an electric riffing in the background and you have a great sounding track. There's a certain quality to the song making it seem retro, as if from an 80's Eric Clapton album, but yet fresh and modern.
As a prelude to the final track Higher Ground offers a tonally different sound, a softly played guitar and piano welcome us to the track. Bleak and dark vocals/lyrics contrast the light style of performance which accompanies it, a very interesting composition. When the chorus comes about it comes about hard showcasing Andy's powerful vocals yet again. A solitary trumpet/bugle plays throughout giving the song a sense of being unique and a stand-alone from the EP as a whole.
The EP's final track Hill Street shows Andy is not just an accomplished vocalist and guitarist but is also great at telling stories. A comparison to Dave McCabe of The Zutons could be made with his vocals, which are also blues-y and also has a hint of indie. The track is the shortest from the EP, but contains a a wealth of lyrics and story. It's also very easy to listen to, not over complicated, but with the introduction of instruments and backing when needed ensures the song stays simple, endearing and interesting.
Have a listen to his release for yourself and let me know what you think. While you are at it, visit Andy's Facebook and Spotify and follow him to stay updated of all news, releases and gigs. Cheers
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