Coolhand

This the self titled debut album from Coolhand - a Cardiff-based band put together by vocalist Darren (Daz) Edwards and guitarist Luke Bradshaw. After listening to this a few times now all I can say is "Wow!". This really is an amazing first album - the first of many I suspect. The playing and singing throughout is exemplary. Tight arrangements and superb production. The music is largely bluesy rock and all 12 tracks were written by the guys. The album kicks off with Virtual Life which sets the tone for what's to follow. It's a guitar-driven song about modern life, with powerful vocals and a neat arrangement. Next up is Summertime Shuffle, which is an organ-infused romp. Dead Man's Hand is the acoustic-led story of Wild Bill Hickok's last night which explodes into a guitar frenzy. There are excellent backing vocals and overall the production is quite brilliant - under-stated and crisp throughout. Such A Fool is a sophisticated rhythmic laid-back soulful ballad. Hardly The Time features more keyboards and acoustic guitar and excellent vocals. Everything starts off with acoustic guitar and organ, and builds into a blues-rock tour-de- force. Once again the singing is of the highest order. Looking Back features funky guitar, great vocals and backing singing and is very tight. Give Love A Chance shows a more subtle side to the band, with the same excellent vocals. Stand Up is a more anthemic romp featuring tasty slide guitar. Can't Carry On and Pretender Love feature more great playing and singing and the album concludes with J & J - an atmospheric instrumental on slide guitar. If you like Bon Jovi, and other American bluesy soft rock outfits, then Coolhand will be right up your street. This a magnificent first album which deserves a wide audience.  

FATEA Review  by John Knighton

Coolhand are a Welsh band comprising of Daz Edwards, Luke Bradshaw and a supporting cast of musicians. Their eponymous debut was self-released and comprises twelve tracks of blues rock that runs the gamut from muscular 70s guitar workouts to hybrid blues/funk/soul. Their WYSIWYG credentials are bolstered by highly accomplished song-writing and some excellent individual performances. Edward's voice is a wonderful instrument; tonally it recalls Paul Rodgers in his Bad Company days. Always sounding in control, able to reach for hidden octaves when the music requires it, it's a voice with that balance of grit and grease perfect for this style of red-blooded music. The other stellar performer here is Bradshaw, who uses opener 'Virtual Life' to introduce himself with some pyrotechnics in the coda. His style is instantly reminiscent of Skid Row and Empty Rooms-era Gary Moore, a confident combination of explosive and soulful. At his most fluid, Bradshaw wrenches pure emotion from his six-string in a way I haven't heard for some years. The supporting cast do an excellent job and it's worth noting the very fine production job – this album sounds superb. So what of the songs? The first two songs set a template for the album. 'Virtual Life' is a mid-paced stomper with mean piano, hammond splashes and a solid backbeat. 'Summertime Shuffle' follows the opener with an organ led melody and some sunshine backing vocals that represent the more commercial aspect of the band's output. Other standouts like 'Everything' with a passionate vocal from Edwards and a contemporary arrangement based on Bradshaw's acoustic riff, or 'Can't Carry On' a ballad with a series of lovely key changes and a great middle-eight. The real corker is 'Hardly The Time' an epic-feeling six minutes, the arpeggiated guitar parts add real depth, as do the backing vocals and it builds nicely over the life of the song; good piano too. Other cuts worthy of mention include the Booker T flavoured 'Looking Back' and the swampy 'Pretender Love' full of 'ooo-ooo' backing vocals and call-and-answer guitar licks that excuse even middle-aged men from reaching for the tennis racquet. This is an album I've returned to again and again since first pressing play and it deserves wider exposure. Let's start here. 

Review by Eye Level With The Stylus Reviews  

Blues Matters album review of 'Coolhand by Coolhand' - There is no argument that this self-titled debut album delivering a cool bluesy dozen self-penned numbers is not an album lightly painted blue, it is true blue through and through. This is an album full of potential with its crisp studio production by Luke himself combined with the obvious musical skills within the band, with Luke Bradshaw’s stylish guitar, Darren Edwards vocal prowess and the stylish piano playing from Gareth Kedward.There is nothing virtual about the stylish blues opening track 'Virtual Life' with a clever, modern and relevant to our times lyric that hits the spot. ‘Looking Back’ has backing vocals adding a different dimension with the beat picking up, then we have a different sound with its country twang to the blues thanks to the pedal steel guitar on 'Give Love A Chance'.This twist on the blues is also evident and suits the track 'Deadman's Hand' which tells the story of the old wild west legend Wild Bill Hickock’s demise.The stylized blues riffs give the album context and the album works well and is listenable and worth returning to with gems that show Coolhand sparkle.The slide/bottleneck instrumental guitar track 'J&J' closes this debut album with a whimper rather than a shout. Coolhand are a name to watch out for with this stylish debut studio album.   

Liz Aiken - Blues Matters Magazine