Jimmy Kunes and Angus Clark have known each other for ages and even discussed working together for a long time, yet it was only recently that the former – a singer whose résumé includes stints with such legendary ensembles as SAVOY BROWN and CACTUS, as well as projects like FLOOD THE ENGINE and NATIONAL WRECKING COMPANY – and the latter – a touring guitarist not only for Joe Lynn Turner and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA but also for the great Kitaro – finally joined forces and formed a group. Named simply KUNES CLARK BAND, this collective ranks list, alongside the leaders, a brace of keyboard players, John Deley and Rob Clores, bassist Winston Roye and drummer Van Romaine, so there’s a lot of talent and expertise on offer, the offer in question being their debut album.
Scheduled to be out on August 30th, “Kunes Clark Band” seems to continue Jimmy’s run of eponymous records, yet of course, it’s music he and Angus came up with that must matter, and the music, judging by the platter’s opener (watch the video below), is as deliciously bluesy, heavy and groovy as one may expect from this pair of veterans.
“Having had just finished a bunch of touring with DRILL and some other acts, I was getting into songwriting and production,” explains Angus, “and I had done a few gigs with Jimmy just in New York City and beyond. His voice is just insanely good, so I presented a few demos to him along with some minimal lyric ideas just to kick things off. Coming into 2023, I was kicking around some riff-based ideas and it just all fell into place. Put it all together with Jimmy’s voice and words and all of a sudden we had an album I’m really excited about!”
Kunes Clark Band
“Angus presented me with three songs and asked if I would be interested in writing lyrics and melodies to his fully formed demos,” enthuses Jimmy. “They sparked creativity in me. They were so strong that they ended up being the nucleus of the ‘Kunes Clark Band’ album. When you have the same instincts musically, there’s a language that you can tap into together. So that’s what we did!”
Read the review.
1. Step Up Step Aside
2. For My Life
3. Cross To Bear
4. Release Yourself
5. Dead Of The Night
6. Let It Begin
7. Drift
8. Free And Homeward Bound
