Blackpool is known for it’s Illuminations, Golden Mile, Tower, Pleasure Beach and the Waterloo Music Venue, but I confidently expect people to start adding Takeaway Thieves to that iconic list in the not too distant future, at least if there is any justice in this World, I would hope so!

The band produce a classic rock/garage rock hybrid with touches of punk in there as well. Named because there are nine tracks and the whole thing was recorded, mixed and mastered in nine days, this is a very accomplished debut album.

Kicking things off with ’13 Feathers’ a drum-beat, the like of which you might hear as warrior braves dance around the campfire, before mounting their war-ponies, and heading into battle with the cavalry, is joined by a solid riff as the lyrics intone “13 feathers will set me free”, there is a tasty guitar solo in the bridge and we are up and running. . ‘Snakes and Daggers’ has ‘classic rock’ writ large all over it, from the rolling swagger of the melody, to the shouted chorus, not to mention another crackerjack guitar solo, this is just wonderful!



First single from the album was ‘Soothe Me’ which is a little bit punk in parts, Peter shows a softer edge to his vocal range here while the combined guitar work by Neil and Ben is sublime. I am beginning to get a sense of the band’s trademark sound here as the rhythm section drive the track onwards and an underlying riff gives solidity to the sound. ‘Big Mistake’ certainly isn’t, and I felt a Dr Feelgood influence at play here, in this mid-paced blues-based rocker. Takeaway Thieves know what an ‘ear-worm’ is too. They do it again with ‘Lose It’ which flows in a chuggy blues direction, while staccato drums back a great vocal. I suspect this could become a sing-a-long at live events.

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‘Hot Car’ speeds things up, as it should, and there seemed to be a Stooges feel to this one. Peter’s vocals are a little higher in the mix, while Max creates a really interesting drum pattern as the track powers along. Second single taken from the disc was ‘Spider’, a song, oddly enough, about a spider “crawlin’ along”. With it’s jangly guitar and shouted chorus, this really defines the garage rock side of the band. Again, we are treated to some great guitar work which gives the track some depth, I really like this one. It’s not @Honky Tonk Women’ but ‘Honky Tonk’ certainly has a detectable Stones influence and kicks plenty of the proverbial. To be honest, any track with ‘Honky Tonk’ and Boogie Woogie’ in the lyrics, gets my vote. The album concludes with ‘Stranger in Town’ a gentle really well sung ballad which is piano led, sadly I don’t have a credit for the keys, and is a fine contrast to the bombast of the rest of the album. An excellent way to end this listening experience.



In conclusion I have to say this is a debut album of the highest quality, well produced, full of great rock and roll of the classic and garage variety. The band have a sound of their own, OK so there are influences, as noted previously, but that is what they are, tints added to the Takeaway Thieves pot of paint, but the base colour is all theirs. I’m sure that this album will become a firm favourite with lovers of rock, it is already in my Top five releases of a very good year.