Recorded in only six days, Tom Mansi And The Icebreakers new release Eyeball has a surprise round every corner in their efforts to extend the boundaries of blues music. 

Release Date:  28th June 2024

Label:   Lunaria Records

Format:   digital download streaming, CD and vinyl

It must be an unnerving experience for any group of artists to  adventure into different spaces  but this is what music needs; to move away from the safety first dross often served up. Mansi claims that with Eyeball, they have “tried to be more expansive in the sound, and left things open to have more production thrown into it. I think it’s still travelling in the same direction, just in a much fancier and bigger vehicle.” Mission accomplished! Well done Tom and your Icebreakers.

It’s not often a stand up bass riff  is given prominence but right from the beginning of the opening track, the riff is dominant and drives Pushback Blues, blending in some chunky guitar and this lively,  bouncy track promises great things. “We like to think of it as a rock n’ roll homage to Prince,” says Tom Mansi of this song.

Softer tones on the slinky title track slowly slide you along before some heavy country style guitar livens things up to a rocky end. This certainly puts a new and adventurous touch to blues  and how magnificently it works. It was a late decision to dub on the Tottenham Community Choir  but it was an moment of inspiration which highlights their experimental spirit.

Tom Mansi is definitely taking us down new avenues and  Maybe Baby houses different rock n roll styles even straying into a bit of prog, metal and jazz. There are musical waves on The Sho’ with  alternating soft and more dynamic moments. Synths and other musical engineering wizardry  enhance the instrumentals. Thinking Of You On The Moon was intended to be solely instrumental, without vocals it would have been Albatross-like but with vocals added  it has a soulful heart-rending  meaning to it erupting into some passionate vocal acrobatics from Jude McIntyre.

A melancholic late 60’s west coast rock feel runs through Got To Be Gone with Tom’s vocals  adding some painful vocals as says Tom. ‘The song is about the acceptance of loss — it’s  a direct reaction to tragedy. ‘…..But it’s not painstaking on the ear,far from it!! A more cheery end to the album comes with a real rocker No Face Blues making this album full of surprises and fascinating variations.

The superbly crafted songs are not only a credit to  all the musician   but refreshingly  praise by the band is given to their engineer, mixer, mastering engineer, tour manager and general wrangler for his contribution to the overall production. The production team and the band are clearly all focusing on the same direction with the end result being a wonderful entertaining album. Only 8 tracks though? C’mon we want more please!!!

Here’s Maybe Baby:

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