STUART TURNER AND THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY

Blues has had a bit of a resurgence in popularity of late. This may be something to do with the recent centenary celebrations of Robert Johnson’s birthday. The mythical sale of his soul to the devil on a dusty crossroads lingers in the legend of the blues – and rock and roll.

Johnson’s music has inspired many, many artists. Even if you’ve never heard of him, there’s a chance there’s something in your record collection which owes him and his like a huge debt. Unless, of course, the only album you have is Robson and Jerome’s Greatest Hits. In which case, you have my deepest sympathy.

One Kent musician who owes a fair bit to the work of Johnson and co. is the fantastic Stuart Turner. His band, The Flat Earth Society are equally indebted too.

Turner’s music is drenched in blues, with side helpings of good old rock and roll and skiffle. The band’s new EP “Weekend Heart” is now available in gorgeous vinyl and slightly more pragmatic (if less sexy) mp3. You really should get yourself a copy.

The EP features three songs: “I Spent My Last Fifty Pence On The Taxi Here”, “Twilight Birds” and “Friends We Haven’t Met”. They are all drenched in a thick Deep South sound with fast paced guitars and Turner’s definitive growl.

The songs vary in theme from the perils of hitchhiking (“Friends We Haven’t Met”) to the perils of drinking (“I Spent My Last Fifty Pence…”), via the perils of relationships (“Twilight Birds”). In fact, the overwhelming feeling of the EP is one of peril. Maybe they should put a warning on the back like you get with DVDs: “Contains mild…”

You know the rest.

But then, that’s what this type of music is all about. Nothing can ever be plain sailing. And Turner’s semi-autobiographical songs definitely fit the bill there.

Despite all the peril, danger and wishing he hadn’t drunk so much just now, Turner’s songs are fun. “Twilight Birds” rattles on with a sense of momentum that comes straight out of the duelling banjos scene in “Deliverance”.

Even the description of a hitchhike-meets-kidnap (“Friends We Haven’t Met”) comes with a sing-a-long chorus of “he said he’d take me home” which will get your toe tapping. And that’s more than you can say about Rutger Hauer in “The Hitcher”.

“Weekend Heart” is a triptych of fantastic bourbon drenched songs. It will drag you into a dusty world where the sun burns your back by day and the devil stalks you by night. An excellent EP.