Bad Touch - 'Kiss The Sky' Released 19 June 2020

Here we are still in isolation with everyone getting more bewildered by the day with what we can and cannot do. Thankfully there’s no such confusion over Bad Touch’s newest offering, the five piece from Norfolk have put everything into this new album and it shows.

Album number four from the boys and really it proves that they have continued to hone their craft delivering this just before schools break up for the summer but you might have to use your imagination for that bit depending on where you reside!

From the opening bars of “Come a Little Closer” it screams quality, bluesy riff and slide delivering the very sound Stevie can sing over all day long, it’s joyous rock and roll and a future crowd pleaser for sure.

There you have the blueprint and thanks to the consistent nature of the songs and recording it never dips from here on in.

You get the homage to The Black Crowes in “I Get High”, surely best listened to in the blazing sunshine with beer in hand. The funk of “Strut” with a change of pace to match before the guitar solo drags it back to classic rock territory, but the first time I find myself nodding and singing along as soon as it starts is when “I’ve Got The Music in Me” hits my speakers. I’d honestly forgotten all about this song made famous by Kiki Dee back in 1974, I remember it the first time around but enough of that! The drums kick in and right now I can’t think of a better way to sum up our feelings, if you don’t already know it then you soon will.

“Can You Save Me” finds the band in a reflective mood, the song builds into a mid-paced rocker and I’m thinking of a southern flavoured Sweet Emotion, perhaps that’s just me though. No harm in wearing your influences on your sleeve especially when they are of such high calibre.

“Kiss The Sky”, the title track of the album kicks off with a familiar swagger, a memorable hook and chorus and nice and ballsy with some real grit in Stevie’s vocal.

Next is one of my favourites off the album, “See You Again”, the lyrics doleful and if this had come out around the late 80’s MTV would have had it on heavy rotation. There’s nothing new about it but I happen to like that, the joy is in the song writing and delivery and the band have it spot on here.

Again, I hear The Black Crowes influence in “Too Much of a Good Thing”, uptempo and with the addition of a little slide it’s just what the doctor ordered.

“Something About Your Kiss” brings the album to a conclusion. It’s the long players nod to Jon Bon Jovi’s Blaze of Glory, I can’t imagine much tumbleweed finding its way onto Dereham high street but that’s where you must use your imagination. The guitar solo pushed the needle on my amp into the red and I’m quite happy for it to stay there.

Yes, there is much more in there and more songs for you to discover. After a couple of listens there is plenty to have me believe that here is an album you can just put on and leave on, no need to get twitchy and reach for the skip button. Every track has been lovingly recorded and the band should be mighty proud of what they have achieved.

I’m Sure Norfolk’s Bernard Matthews would have called it Bootiful, I’m with him on that!