 |
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||
|
McKenzie may be an unfamiliar to you, but their music should strike a chord with any Brit Country fan with an eye to the future, as this 11 track offering, has their names alongside all but 2, laid down. Recorded independently, at Trakks Sudio, Epping, UK, McKenzie, who are, Zoe Caryl, vocals, backing vocals, additional piano and partner, Kenny Plenderleith, vocals, backing vocals, guitars, mandolin, bass, keyboards and drum programming, have enlisted the help of Tommy Duffy, bass and Mike Piggot, fiddle. The opener, a lament, Lovestruck, Zoe breaths poignancy over heart-tugging lyrics, before hitting the gas on fiddle led, Are You Coming Out To Play, checks Zoe into raunchy playful mode. I’ve Got A Fender Guitar, sees Zoe side stepping from the mic, and partner, Kenny, stirring up some finger lickin’ southern – fried, 2 step. Back in the driving seat, Zoe reeks loves lost on ballad, Step Into The Light, leading to, raunchy, bluesy, Mr Busy. Soaring harmonies raise, Make Love To Me and dipping a toe into Western Swing, Goldrush, takes us to Lousiana feel, Happy Blues, zipping to Gospel, My Little One and penultimate, Chelsea Day. Closer, The Dark Isle & Red Red Rose, conjures a misty, mysteriously land laced with the finest of pickin’. McKenzie, have several aces up their sleeve - Zoe Caryl’s, amazing powerful vocal range and musical wizardry of her partner, Kenny Plenderleith. Add this to story telling talent and we’re raising the rooftops to recommend McKenzie and their music. If McKenzie are a fraction as good as this Album, live, well, I just can’t wait!! Irene Tradewell, Country Routes magazine
McKenZie Walking On SteelA spot of home-grown country music producing a dash and flare not always heard Consisting of vocalist Zoe Caryl and Kenny Plenderleith who not only plays a wealth of different instruments but also gets to sing a warm, accommodating lead vocal on the rockabilly styled I’ve got a Fender guitar, a role otherwise taken by the talented Zoe. Heard at best on dreamy love song Make love to me and the addictive Step into the light, set to become a big favourite with their followers and all who witness them. Featuring effective steel guitar and a jaunty rhythm the words roll off her tongue on arguably her finest and most polished vocal performance, not far behind is the fiddle opened My little one, where again I was impressed by her composure and general ability as a vocalist. Real country music, and with a heavier support and very much more of a present day Nashville mainstream approach, but none the worse for it, Chelsea Day, as with the hot footing Are you coming out to play (featuring the roving fiddle of Mike Piggot) has its moments. I fully expect the duo to build on this effort, their debut album – where it is evident that a great deal of thought and care was taken in the making. None more so than paired bonus tracks, beautifully wove Scottish traditional fare (they played last years Great Scottish Country Music Festival in Ayr) The Dark Isle/Red Red Rose – the former as a subtle and extremely poignant instrumental. Maurice Hope, Maverick magazine May 2008
McKenZie are Zoe Caryl & Kenny Plenderleith, from Epping. Their album “Walking on Steel” has been getting good reviews especially up here. Zoe does have a great voice, whether on the pop sounding “Lovestruck”, the bluesy “Are you coming out to play”, or the slower “Step in to the light”. Their current single (via Rush released CD) is “Goldrush”. It’s a really catchty number, which really shows Zoe’s voice. “Chelsea Day”, is a close second. “My little one is a really catchy, if sentimental number. Kenny also leads the vocals on “I’ve got a Fender Guitar”. The album closes with a Scots selection. An instrumental “Dark Isle” is followed by Zoe’s stunning version of “My Love is Like a Red Red Rose”. This has to be one of the best UK albums I’ve heard in a long time, and, apart from the Scottish track, all original, and sounding it! www.mckenziecountry.co.uk Stewart Fenwick, Country Music and Dance in Scotland & N/Ireland June/July 2008 “Walking On Steel… is a great album, which benefits from great production. My favourite track is, I think "Are You Coming Out To Play" which has some great fiddle on it. I also think the picture on the cover of you walking along the guitar is a great idea." Alan Watkiss, ukcountryradio.com "Absolutely marvellous stuff...pure magic...Zoe has a tremendous country music singing voice...Kenny sounding at times like a young Elvis" Ken Mcleod, DJ for Tay AM
"Very good indeed" David Callister, DJ at Manx Radio "Great songs and vocal styling,,,,could have come out of Nashville - with the added advantage of a "dash of British danceability" John Gould, DJ at Speysound Radio
"Taken me by storm" Peter Fairhead, DJ at KCFM
"I love that you have created such a great country sound, with real instruments...The British country scene really needs artistes like you." Marie Crichton, BBC Shropshire |
 |
 |
|
| Site Map |