The Hiptones - ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’

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OK these guys are cool.  Not in the modern sense of the word, but more in the vernacular circa 1950s, like “Frank Sinatra is a cool cat”.  The Hiptones blend contemporary Australian blues and roots with a New Orleans sense of funk and soul.  Hammond organ and guitar thick with slap-back echo create a mood akin to a hazy lounge bar.

Vocalist Snooks La Vie, utilising the great vintage sounds of old-school microphones, has a smoky R&B style voice that suits the retro-inspired music of the band.  The 62 T-bird. the clothes and the music all scream retro, and the band are riding the current pre-60s trend that acts such as The Basics are leading the way in.  It was through a glowing review of their debut album Right Now in The Brag magazine in Sydney that I decided to give these guys a chance, and it is one of the coolest (there’s that word again) albums I’ve heard in quite a while.

They’ve recently signed to Sony BMG, but from what I can tell this Adelaide four piece has been kicking around since 2001.  But info on their beginnings is fairly hazy, but they’ve supported Chris Isaac and played at a number of jazz festivals.  They’ve got a previous recording to their name - Meet Me At The Sands - but I reckon you’d be hard-pressed to actually find a copy of it.

The coolest cats this side of the equator.

http://www.thehiptones.com
http://www.myspace.com/thehiptones