BRAVE RIVAL – “GUILTY LOVE” – SINGLE REVIEW

Short Bites

2022-02-11

BRAVE RIVAL – “GUILTY LOVE” – SINGLE REVIEW

Portsmouth UK’s blues-rock ensemble Brave Rival have a lot to be excited about. They are dropping their first single off their upcoming debut album Life’s Machine which releases on May 6th. Brave Rival are letting go the dynamic “Guilty Love” today, February 11th. The track showcases their singular sound that envelopes a myriad blend of blues, rock and brassy soul.

Fronted by the brazen dual vocals of Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine, Brave Rival delivers a powerful bold resonance. Their hyponic voices transports the band to unrivaled dimensions. The musicianship of Brave Rival is also beyond compare. Guitarist Ed Clarke is captivating with vibrant guitar riffs and tantalizing solos. Bassist Billy Dedman plays with a harmonic richness and drummer Donna Peters is brilliant. Her percussions have a spicy yet firm hold.

Brave Rival enlisted the talents of young producer and engineer Tarrant Shepherd, The record was recorded in the picturesque Surrey countryside at the Mayfair Studio. For Tarrant, this was his first professional album under his own stewardship, and he left nothing on the table. The pairing was a match made in heaven, and one that was a long time in the making. Originally, Life’s Machine was scheduled to be released in the spring of 2020 but due the pandemic had to be pushed back.

The extra year was time well spent as the band was able to fine tune their songs. During their downtime, Brave Rival was able to write upwards of 50 composition of which 12 made the disc. Speaking of the process, Chloe Josephine states:

“We didn’t want to just give up and hide away. All we wanted to do is keep the momentum going and keep ourselves from going crazy whilst stuck at home. We would have regular Zoom calls as a band to work on song ideas. Our guitarist, Ed Clarke came up with a guitar riff that he would record at home. Then our bassist, Billy Dedman, or our drummer Donna Peters, would record their parts at home and the song would grow organically”.

“Guilty Love” is the perfect send off for Brave Rival. The track showcases the amazing dynamism of their dual vocalists. Bonnick and Josephine’s voices intertwine beautifully creating a flood of aural ecstasy. The back and forth harmonies surrender a sonic eargasm of momentous proportions. Clarke’s guitar bristles with unbridled vitality and has a divine shine. Dedman’s bass has a dazzling timbre and Peters’ percussions convey a lofty depth. Studio keyboardist Jonny Henderson (Ian Siegal/Matt Schofield) releases sensual magic. “Guilty Love” is an impassioned jewel. It’s full of adventurous flavors and stellar textures.

We aren’t the only ones who think Brave Rival rule. They have been nominated for “Best Emerging Blues Artist Of the Year” by the UK Blues Awards 2022. Brave Rival will be embarking on an extensive tour this coming spring.

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