THE DUST CODA – Mojo Skyline (2021)
Sleek yet hard-hitting rock’n’roll rooted in blues, THE DUST CODA clutch the echoes of the Seventies, Eighties and the good Nineties, from the pure, raw poetry of Led Zeppelin to the muscle of Thunder or Slash & Conspirators, and bring them kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
That is what THE DUST CODA deliver on their second effort ”Mojo Skyline”, a modern-day epitome of rock n roll truth – in terms of the quality of what they do, the thought in how they arrange it and the natural talent that permeates through the music.
With ‘Demon’ we have perhaps the best album opener of the year. A stark acapella intro serves as the starting pistol that launches the band into full attack. It’s rock and roll at its very best – in terms of tempo, power, depth and strong vocal range. This is classic rock done well, presented in modern production clothes akin Thunder. From the opening track, it’s the class that shines through, material oozing technical ability, intelligence and talent.
‘Breakdown’ and ‘Limbo Man’ showcase the signature facets of the band’s singles that have given The Dust Coda enduring appeal with rock radio shows in recent years, both songs having a polished performance feel and catchiness.
In the age of no gigs, these recorded songs take you as close as you can get to that feeling of concert hall electricity. Track after track, on ‘Mojo Skyline’ the music is visceral and alive.
Track four is where we go up through the gears and it’s where the band leaves the debut album fading away in the rear-view mirror. ‘Dream Alight’ is where we see the break with the past and a calling card on what is possible for the band going forward. I first heard it when news broke of a Covid vaccine and, for me, it evoked a sense of a new dawn, an uplifting hope for a new era.
‘Dream Alight’ is the song that separates The Dust Coda from the pack, being a song perfect for mainstream radio and even film or TV soundtracks. It’s not a classic rock song, it’s not even a rock song – it’s just a great song; very simple – but one that can appeal across genres, geographies and age groups. Classic in its genesis but warmly contemporary in its feel and execution, the free-flying melody and the warm, caressing vocal will win hearts and minds for what may well become one of the songs of 2021.
Next up, ‘Jimmy 2 Times’ brings the party – and once this hits the Friday rock show airwaves, I have a feeling it will be staying for a lengthy run. There’s a big nod to Aerosmith here, the pace and punchy diction of the vocals gives the music added bite. This is a song with the power and depth to fill arenas, and at home it needs to be enjoyed loud and on a good stereo.
There are many great rising bands out there doing their thing well, but when it comes to expressive opus tracks like ‘Rolling’ – this is the kind of expanded song no can do quite as well as The Dust Coda.
‘Bourbon Pouring’ brings it all down a bit. A nostalgic rock&pop song with a blues heart. The band doesn’t need the noise to impress; this is a simple song executed perfectly. It builds naturally but this one is also a case of less being more.
‘I’ve Been Waiting’ brings the oomph back with deep, heavy, slow-placed intensity. Fans of timeless melodies & riffs will love this song, which suggest that, with Dust Coda, the classic rock legacy is in safe hands.
The tail-enders are songs that are probably best suited for the stage and will almost certainly become live favourites. ‘Best Believe It’ delivers that hot sweaty intensity fans enjoy at gigs, along with the song’s classic call-and-response moments. ‘They Don’t Know Rock n Roll’ is another anthem for the resurgent guitar music scene, with perfect build sections for audience engagement, hand-clapping moments and a rousing finale.
The album closer – ‘It’s a Jam’ – is an unexpected treat. It’s an upbeat jam, but with a greater sense of playful fun and swagger than many other tracks. It’s a song to dance to, rather than to bang your head to – and another song that has the potential to see rock move on from the genre goldfish bowl and into the mainstream.
In an age obsessed with streaming, mobile convenience and instant access, this is an album to really sit back and get lost in. Well-arranged and produced, ‘Mojo Skyline’ is an album brimming with integrity, one to be enjoyed loud on a good music system – and I have a feeling it will also work well on vinyl.
Highly Recommended
01. Demon
02. Breakdown
03. Limbo Man
04. Dream Alight
05. Jimmy 2 Times
06. Rolling
07. Bourbon Pouring
08. I’ve Been Waiting
09. She’s Gone
10. They Don’t Know Rock N Roll
11. Best Believe It
12. It’s A Jam
John Drake – lead vocals & guitar
Adam Mackie – lead guitar
Scott Miller – drums
Tony Ho – bass
BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Mojo-Skyline-Dust-Coda/dp/B08NP12CS9
