The Dirty Strangers - 'Hunter’s Moon'

Here we are in 2023 with their 6th album ‘Hunter’s Moon’, releasing on the bands own DS Records label and featuring 11 strong tracks.

Opening up with the title track ‘Hunter’s Moon’ and then onto ‘La La La I Couldn’t Care Less’ it quickly eases you into a catchy series of guitar lines backed up with in your face vocals that draws you into the style and vibe of the Stones or Georgia Satellites.

There’s a collective of musical talent performing alongside Alan Clayton on this album from Guy Griffin, Pip Mailing, Cliff Wright, Lawrence Fox, John Rollason and the late Scott Mulvey who sadly passed away in 2021. Big shout out to the drummer Holly Clayton who plays supremely well on ‘ La La La I Couldn’t Care Less’ and is Alan’s 13 year old niece. Musical family indeed.

‘Pirates Don’t Get Pensions’ is a tale of angst and where ultimately hard work and musical passion generally leads to sadly little or no reward.

The shortest song on the album next up clocking in at 100 seconds is ‘My Girls A Getaway Driver’, thats all the track time it needs though, opens up drags you in roughs you up a bit then kicks you back out.

‘Cell Block No5’ is one of the 4 album tracks Alan called on the assistance of collaborators Mulvey/Griffin/Malling /Wright. Its one of my favourites on the album, love the acoustic intro with the soulful slide guitar work backing it up.

Power chords bring you into ’T’Troublemaker’, this is the hardest driven rock song on the album and is my favourite track with some pretty cool guitar work.

’Slap Bang’ and ’State Of Affair’ keep pushing on with the strong chords and lyrics about I guess everyday life ‘got to have fun… while you still look young’, ‘it may be day … it may be night’. Believe me that’s the vibe you get from these guys and their message, grab the moment get on and do it, get up and grab it, great stuff.

Next up is ‘Gold Cortina’ which originally appeared on the bands 3rd album form 2009, ‘West 12 To Wittering’, its a good revamp of this song. Its done in a rockabilly bop style and complements it well.

‘Stay For A Little While’, good upbeat song, again great guitar work, a theme that goes right through this album.

‘The Dirty Strangers’ write songs about everyday life stuff, challenges, good times, bad times, blows, pats on the back and that follows you through all their material.

‘Anything You Say’ slows right down the pace of the album that you get and experience loud and clear from the previous 10 tracks. Its a good way to bring ‘Hunter’s Moon’ to a solid walking pace close.

Good album, if you liked their back catalogue, you know what you’re getting.

Kevin McCallum