2025 – Mad Hat Records
Limited
Release Date : October
31, 2025
By Phillip
Smith; December
13, 2025
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
A Storm is Coming, the sixth studio album from Birmingham England–based
blues-singer Rebecca Downes, is an exciting listen filled with dramatic
nuances. I love to hear her sing. She has such a lovely voice. It’s quite
obvious why she was awarded Female Vocalist and Emerging Artist of
the Year at the 2016 British Blues Awards, and pulled down Female
Blues Vocalist of the Year in the 2018 FORM UK Blues Awards. Her new
record consists of ten all-original songs written by Downes and her songwriting partner/bandmate Steve Birkett. With Downes taking center stage on lead vocals,
she is joined by Birkett on guitars, backing vocals, keys, bass, and Hammond
organ, Neil Ablard on drums, Nigel Darvill on Hammond for
the last track, and James Peterson on bass for the last track.
With the crackle of lightning and sound of falling rain, the album opens with the ominous “A Storm is Coming”. Birkett masterfully keeps the vibe tense on guitar and keys as Downes battens down the hatches in a hypnotic way on vocals. I dig the spaghetti-western approach on drums Ablard lends to the song as well. I sense many in this world can easily identify with “These Days”, anthem for the depressed and downtrodden. It’s a remarkable song and so beautifully sung. Birkett’s heavy bass and wailing guitar performances splendidly reinforce the cry-for-help message. Downes delivers the blues in a grand, gorgeous way on “Waiting For The Morning”. The mood is delightfully set with intermittent guitar licks spaced throughout the long-held organ-induced chords. Then Birkett’s guitar soars skyward pushing the listener into space for a short but intense experience, and I enjoy every little bit of it. “Never Gonna Take You Back” is a surefire hit with its infectious, driving rhythm and Pat Benetar stand-your-ground approach. It’s a standout favorite. A recurring theme of lost love and broken relationships bring the record to an end and possibly yet another new beginning for the protagonist in “Hit the Ground Running”. It’s a wonderfully-written song with a flawless production.
With every listen to Rebecca Downes’ A Storm is Coming, I’m left in a state of awe. It’s a brilliant album from start to finish.
For more information about Rebecca
Downes, visit her website https://www.rebeccadownes.com