The Strats

Will Ludford - The Strats

As with John Lee Hooker, sometimes it’s good to know what you’re about to get musically.

It’s the same with rock duo The Strats, who enthusiastically combine Fender Stratocaster and keyboards again in their latest album, Falling Off The Edge Of The World (Holy Grail Records).

The Strats don’t need much analysing. Irish lads Will Ludford (pictured) and Nigel Brannigan get a full-blooded rock sound from just two men and two instruments – no bass or drums, just plenty of drive, some electronic wizardry and pretty much non-stop rocking from start to finish.

You know they’ve been around for a bit when you discover they have met, work and performed with some of the world’s greatest artists, including George Harrison, Tiny Tim, The O Jays and Jimi Hendrix.

The first two tracks, You Better Stop and Addicted follow on seamlessly from each other – hardly surprising since they are both in the same key, with same rhythm. Imagine Status Quo with keyboards and you won’t be a million miles away.

The boys slow it down and get into a minor key for the more soulful I Don’t Love You Any More then, hold onto your hats, where hoppin’ and boppin’ again with the catchy, singalong You Blew Me Out Of My Mind.

Door Of Faith is an example of The Strats at their best – slow and cool with more poetic, Dylan-like lyrics. When they get serious, they’re can actually get quite deep, even if it seems to go against the grain for the fun-loving pair. Ludford also plucks a straining Fender solo out of nowhere here that’s worth getting into.

The Strats turn more bluesy with their Robert Johnson-flavoured Standin’ At The Station – and isn’t there a rather majestic Clapton-like guitar lead in there somewhere?

The pair keep things moving along steadily with Falling Off The Edge Of The World – a rather sobby, sentimental ‘50s-style ballad, the title track but certainly not the album’s highlight.

Soul Digger gets Ludford and Brannigan back on track with what they like doing best with the rollicking Gold Digger – kind of Arabian Nights meets The Doors.

Someone To Love reminds me of the Velvet Undergound for some reason, with its ‘70s driving rhythm, then we’ve arrived at the end of the rollercoaster with Torpedo To Your Heart – certainly the CD’s hot spot, with its spiky, offbeat rhythm built on a single, irresistible riff that permeates the track from start to finish.

Sometimes mawkish, often corny, The Strats are hard to dislike, simply because you know this is two guys who are no spring chickens having fun, doing what they like best and often hitting the right spot. Long may they rock.

Check out comments on MySpace

You can purchase Falling Off The Edge Of The World online from the shop page of their website or from most leading providers.

Just to let everybody know our new CD has been released this month and we are getting amazing reviews about it. Radio stations that have received a copy of the CD are telling everyone about it.

You can check out our comments on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwthestratscom . You can purchase it online from our shop page or from most leading providers!