ALBUM REVIEW: The self-titled debut from His Lordship
His Lordship are one of the most explosive and exciting live acts to emerge from the UK in years, and on the back of a hugey successful 2023 tour, they fly into 2024 with the release of their debut self-titled album “His Lordship” which is out on 26th January 2024 via Psychonaut Sounds.
Co-produced by the band with David Wrench (XX, Hot Chip, Courtney Barnett) and mixed by Wrench and Tchad Blake (the Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys etc), ‘His Lordship’ is a tour de force of twelve frenetic, frenzied, rapturous tracks.
A band you may not have come across before, they have quite the pedigree behind them ! A project conceived during the Covid during lockdown to blow the cobwebs away and remind us of what music has been missing, the band are made up of the powerhouse duo of James Walbourne (The Pretenders, The Pogues, The Rails) and Kristoffer Sonne (Chrissie Hynde, James Morrison & Willie Nelson). After lockdown, they Initially started playing live in their local pub for fun doing covers, before the original material started to flow. Audiences included Glen Matlock and Paul Cook (Sex Pistols), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) and Chrissie herself.
The band's first single All Cranked Up hit the 6 Music B-List last summer, followed by Buzzkill, an angular, twisted ear worm produced by David Wrench (Courtney Barnett, XX, Frank Ocean).
His Lordship sold out their debut UK tour in 2022, and then joined Jason Isbell on a sell out European tour culminating with a roof raising show at London’s Eventim Apollo. Earlier this year the band also headed out on their biggest headline tour to date, taking in 12 cities, including a sold-out headline show at London’s Lafayette. They recently completed an extensive tour of the UK in November 2023 to rave reviews.
We saw His Lordship for the first time back in November at the Bodega in Nottingham and were blown away by their high tempo punk energy, dressed in black suits a la Men in Black / Blues Brothers, they delivered an exhilarating performance. (Check out our gallery here:
https://www.livewiremusic.org/home/hislordshiplive18112023).
How do you describe His Lordship ? It’s a whirlwind of old school punk and rock’n’roll; all the things they grew up on, influenced by the artists they saw, such as Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Their individual careers have given them a huge and varied experience of styles and genres, and that certainly comes through in their His Lordship writing, with elements of ‘50s rockabilly, surf, punk, modern rock and good old rock’n roll.
Photo (c) Dean Chalkley
The album is a audio blitzkrieg on the eardrums. It bursts into life with All Cranked Up and doesn’t pause for a moment until the final notes of I Live In The City, and somehow 30:18 minutes of your life have joyously whizzed by !
The album opens up with All Cranked Up an absolute blast of a track. With a kind of late 70s feel to it, it reminded me of bands like the Buzzcocks or the Ramones with it’s classic punk anthem sentiment, iconic riffs and crashing cymbals driving the track along. What a start !
Next up is Buzzkill a killer track with it’s staccato guitar sections with sharp cut off. The chorus sections really had that Dead Kennedys vibe going on. This s followed by Joyboy with it’s gritty and raw edged guitar tone and relentless drums as James delivers the vocals with punk panache: “Joyboy sitting in the back of the bus, got a pocket full of uppers and his fingers crossed”. It’s pacey and an utter blast, unrelenting from start to finish.
Straight into The Repenter which caught me out. Initially starting with a simple shrill guitar sound which beckons in an almost spoken vocal recital. I had the feel of one of those megalithic Dio-like rock anthem building with tales of bravado, but as the track builds it twists and unexpectedly settles in to a kind of almost ‘do wop’ laid back chorus. It turned head over heels into some kind of Twin temple sound and it was lush.
Rock Fall Echo Dust is just full on old school rockabilly sitting somewhere between the Stray Cats and the Reverend Horton Heat.
The feel of the album takes yet another turn mid way through with the exceptional Cat Call, which is maybe my highlight of highlights on the album. An instrumental blast right from the start to the finish with a galloping bass and drum riff. Instrumental tracks are often used as a mid-album soft, reflective break, but not this one, it’s fast and furious and relentless. It has a wonderfully fun, and dirty bass tone running through it. It made me laugh at myself as I remembered the Rhubarb and custard theme tune lol. Indeed, the whole track sounds like a kids TV show theme on acid. I’m sure that wasn’t the vibe they were going for (sorry guys !). Brilliant stuff !
Latest single Jackie Works for the NHS is next (a real highlight of their live show!). Think along the lines of The Ramones “Sheena is a punk rocker” but so utterly and quintessentially British with it’s simple, repeated chorus line of “Jackie works for the NHS” which has that late 70’s classic Stranglers/Undertones punk style. With a powerful chorus that kocks your socks off, it’s a sonic essay on the state of England in 2023. As James said “Our beloved NHS is being dismantled piece by piece….. Jackie lives on our block. Jackie works for the NHS. We love Jackie. God save the NHS.
Check out the video for Jackie Works for the NHS below:
That cheeky fun style returns with I’m So Bored With Being Bored, the title instantly making me think of those early US punk bands such as Descendents or Black Flag, with songs such as “TV Party” and “Thirsty and Miserable” The chorus has an almost droning vocal style repeating the title so effectively carrying the emotion of its name.
Pixellated Polly is somewhat of an enigma for me. It’s a track that feels so fresh and unique, and yet reminds me of something, but can I think of what ? Argh ! Ear worm of the worst (I mean good) kind. An anthemic riot in structure, with a repetitive, pounding rhythm throughout and wonderfully structured lyrics, with lines such as “Pixalatted Polly, Rides the 134 bus, tattooed diabetic, coma in a bathtub, everybody’s someone everybody’s no one”.
Searing fast guitar with a siren welcome in the punchy I Am In Amsterdam. This one is made for live performance, with it’s pounding melody just made to get you moving, along with it’s pulsating guitar riffs driving it along. It made me think of those songs of getting drunk or into trouble on tour around Europe, such as Skinny Lister’s “Bavaria Area” or “Arm Wrestling in Dresden”.
My Brother Is An Only Child is a classic rock anthem but with an edge, James’ vocals take on an almost Lux Interior (The Cramps) style, as they almost draped, nah… ooze over the music. Again a great live one, the sort you can scream along to from the dancefloor.
As the album reaches it’s conclusion we end on I Live In The City, and its back to those 70’s punk roots. Another non-stop blast from start to finish with chanted (Ramones-esque) “C-I-T-Y” chorus, the lyrics: “I live in the city, and I love it that way” simple, powerful and effective.
And that’s it…….. 30:18 have simply flown by ! Its an absolute rollercoaster of an album as you dart one way then the next between styles, influences and genres.. But like any good rollercoaster…. Its one you want to et right back on, and before you know it, you’ve listened through it 3, or 4 times !
It’s clear this is two guys, making music simply because they love to. It comes over as being all about the love of music and doing what feels right and fun.
His Lordship take taken all their years of experience, their childhood roots and their love of music to create something that reflects on the bets bits of rock and roll, but gives it a 21st century style. It’s original and thoroughly fun.
Live, His Lordship are sensational, and the album follows suit….. a blast, and well worth a near perfect 9.5 from LiveWire. I can’t wait to see what album #2 brings, but something tells me it will be NOTHING like this one !
His Lordship’s debut album will be available on both black and limited clear vinyl editions plus a CD in a gatefold card wallet with 12 page booklet. All pre-orders made via their webshop (link HERE) before 26th January come with a limited edition print signed by James and Kris.
In addition, the guys will be hitting the road for a short series of intimate arecord store appearances to mark the albums launch. Don’t miss out, check out the dates/locations below:
HIS LORDSHIP IN-STORES
Friday 26th Jan - 7pm - Rough Trade - Bristol
Saturday 27th Jan - 4pm - Truck - Oxford
Monday 29th Jan - 6pm - Rough Trade - Nottingham
Tuesday 30th Jan - 7pm Action Records - Preston
Wednesday 31st Jan - 7pm - Rough Trade East - London
Thursday 1st Feb - 6pm - Banquet Records - London
