Tag: Dai Jeffries

Fate The Juggler first came to our attention back in 2016 and have been popping around ever since. It started for us with their EP, Colour Of Change, and a live album although their debut album was The Ghost Of Beauty Lost in 2010. The line-up has changed somewhat with only chief songwriter Robert Spiers and Don Judges still present. Godless Blues is their eighth full-length album if you count compilations and self-made bootlegs.

They were sort of categorised as folk-rock because of their mix of electric and acoustic instruments but now you might call them indie-rock (which is how they started life) – the instrumentation hasn’t changed a great deal but the emphasis has. The title track, which opens the album, is a joint composition so bassist Mark Ellis, keyboard player Bradley Jacobs and drummer Kirk Mann share the credits with Spiers and Judges. It’s a rolling blues boogie opening with drums and bass but everyone gets a turn.

‘Once Upon A Time’ sees Robert leaning towards the political in a non-specific way. You can decide which “they” are doing all this bad stuff for yourself. Judges’ electric guitar drives it on with decoration from Jacobs’ barrelhouse piano. ‘Into The Storm’, introduced by Robert’s harmonica is ostensibly a love song but the politics sneak in again. Just as well because ‘Freedom (Don’t Let It Slip Away)’, written by Spiers and Judges, gives it both barrels. It’s “them” again, this time with a light reggae/funk backing, and it doesn’t let up with ‘Keys To The Kingdom’ which borrows its opening effect from Neil Young’s Trans.

‘Cold Comfort (I Can’t Let Go)’ begins with acoustic guitar but the electric muscles its way in very quickly. I hate to make this comparison but there is a bit of Dylan in this song, specifically the Street Legal era. ‘Your Voice’ is co-written with Jacobs so the keyboards get more air time – it’s about following your instincts, I suppose. Godless Blues officially ends with another all-band composition, the nine-minute ‘All The Way From LA’ which opens with off-air recordings (if I’m any judge) then police sirens before developing into a grungy blues. I say “officially” because there are two bonus tracks: ‘Everything Will Be Alright (Together)’, another big number which has the feel of a live recording without the annoyance of having an audience getting in the way and ‘As Long As The Monies Made’.

Fate The Juggler are as tight as can be on Godless Blues as they blend blues, boogie, rock and Robert Spiers lyrics which carry over the sensibilities of his earlier folky style. All the players get their turn in the spotlight to good effect and I guess that their current live show will get ‘em rocking in the aisles.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: www.fatethejuggler.co.uk

‘Keys To The Kingdom’ – official video: