Mike Snow

Slowly Speeding from Kim Lenz, is another album from one of Americas foremost Rockabilly/Rock'N'Roll female singers. This album has also shown that the lady is a force to be reckoned with in the Country/Americana scene. All the songs are written by Kim, except "Room", which was co written with DH Phillips. As is normal with Kim's tracks, the emphasis is on lyricism. Assisting Kim on the on the 10 track album are, Tjarko Jeen: Guitar, 6 string Bass. DH Phillips: Guitar, Steel Guitar. Jake Erwin: Bass, and Santos De Leon: Drums. Backing Vocals are supplied by Justin Collins on Slowly Speeding, and I'll Find You. With Riley Lenz on Wild Oak. Lets get on it! 1. Bogeyman. The rasping vocals that start this track off, slide into an emotionally charged outpouring washing over a pulsing beat. All the parts of this number mix together, and none over shadows the others. Great first track, which shows off Kim's vocals to a tee. A track for a hot summers night watching the shadows move. 2. Pine Me. A sultry country number that brings up visions of an unknown rider disappearing away into the distance. An absolute spanker of a track. 3. Guilty. This rocks on at a great little pace. A more typical Rockabilly number, with some hot guitar work backing the vocals, along with some very nice thumping bass work. 4. Bury Me Deep. Anyone who has suffered in a relationship from an intense love, should be able to relate to this track. This number drives along, and should be a hit with jivers and strollers the same. 5. Slowly Speeding. This is a real 40/50's style country number. I could really wax lyrical about the title track, but I'll just tell you to play it, grab your beau, and waltz back into your youth. 6. Wild Oak. Driven by some great bass work and minimalist guitar work, this Rockabilly track is very atmospheric. And is going on my car play list 7. I'll Find You. This track immediately reminded me of Tito and The Tarantulas "Strange Face of Love". One of my all time favorite tracks. That said, this is a number that swirls around you and surrounds you with the vocals. And is a great track in it's own right of course. 8. Percolate. 50's style abounds in this song about a girl falling for a guy, and what effect he has on her. The vocals fit like a glove to the melody. 9. Hourglass. Builds up slowly into a great dark number of Love, Life, and Time. As with all the tracks, Kim's vocals carry the song with an emotion that raises the hairs on the back of your neck. 10. Room. With it's not so overt promise of sex and heaven, awaiting you in her room. This track is as hot and steamy as a midsummer night in New Orleans Bordelo. Wow loved it, and it's already become a favorite of mine. I've been a Kim Lenz fan for a long time, so getting to review this album was a real pleasure. Kim Lenz is probably better known as a rockabilly artist especially because of what she can achieve when she uses that gravelness of her vocals, and you could class this as a Rockabilly album. And you'd not be far off the mark. But with the dark subjects and atmospheric melodies, it could fall into psychobilly too. This album has all the hallmarks of being much played by Rockabilly, Psychobilly, and country fans, as it molds traces of each into all the songs and is pulled together by Kim's great vocals. Roots and America fans should latch onto this album too. This, accompanied by the quality of the musicians playing behind her, makes this an album you don't want to miss out on. Definitely a favorite in our house.