First Child Queen of Hearts
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
Simple, straightforward rock and roll is a rarity these days with so many bands trying to push the boundaries into new territory. But simple, straightforward rock and roll is what you get on Queen Of Hearts, the sophomore release by the German trio First Child.
Built around the vocals and bass of “Cat The Cat”, First Child is a bit of a throwback. Their music is simple and basic, cleanly recorded and performed with a great sense of fun. Guitarist Mr. Buddy S. and drummer Stephan Preussner back up Cat, and together the three of them seem to have a blast. Sporting a very “eccentric” look which would fit in quite nicely at a Mardi Gras celebration, they are seriously good musicians despite the goofy outfits and lurid colored album art. They play primarily old school hard rock, but even the casual listener will pick up the elements of pop rock, old style jazz and of course the blues.
Cat’s vocals are strong and a bit raspy at times – perfect for a blues-based rock singer. It is refreshing to find a European female vocalist with a good quality voice who has decided NOT to front a power metal band, but would rather reach back to basic roots rock. She also plays a fine bass, and her rhythm lines form a solid foundation for First Child’s music. Stephan Preussner is a fine rock drummer and a team player, molding his lines nicely into the music without dominating the sound no matter what the style of song. Mr. Buddy S. is a very good blues and rock guitarist, and puts out some really hooky rhythm lines and nicely styled solos. He also is a true team player, seemingly content to keep his music vibrant and lively but always under control. Therein lies the one and only low point of the album – intensity. First Child hums along nicely but gives the impression that they are playing at 95% capacity, never really maxing out their abilities. There should be a few moments at least where they turn it up to 11.
The CD opens with “Queen Of Hearts” and “Gambler,” great bluesy, Mississippi paddle-wheelers of sound with solid vocals and great guitars. “Every Bullet” is undoubtedly Cat The Cat’s showpiece, giving her a chance to really shine as a vocalist and bassist, and it also allows Buddy S. to lay down some great acoustic blues, while “Rock This Town” is a bit goofy – you can almost hear the band just getting a kick out it all and not taking it (or themselves) too seriously. “Just The Way I Am” is another low key rocker with good structure and lyrics, and “Bones” settles into a great funky groove that is a treat for the ears. “Don’t Mess Around” is blues to the core while “For The First Time” and “Back At Home” are sappy rock ballads that don’t quite fit with the rest of the disc.
“Face In The Mirror” gets the CD back on track with some incredible guitar licks and emotive vocals, and leads into the bouncy and funky “Gypsy Woman.” First Child shifts gears again and seems to want to channel Elvis in “When I Dream,” and then jumps into two great all-out rockers with “Shout Out Devil” and “Have Mercy.” “Bye Bye My Baby” lets Cat show of her girlish side, and the amazing “What Are We Fighting For” wraps the album on a high note.
The production and engineering is very good. The band was obviously looking for a simple setup that would give their listeners that “live feel” without layers of overdubs and electronics. They succeeded on all fronts.
All in all, Queen Of Hearts is a great rock album. Due to the old-school tone it won’t appeal to everyone, but it is a gem and a must-have for any blues or hard rock fan. Nothing revolutionary here, just good roots rock. The only things that would improve this CD would be that one song where the band pushes their limits, and the dropping of one or two of the weaker tracks.
Definitely recommended!
Label: Onslow Records
Web: http://www.myspace.com/firstchildbassrock , http://www.first-child.de/
Track Listing:
01 – Queen Of Hearts
02 – Gambler
03 – Every Bullet
04 – Rock This Town
05 – Just The Way I Am
06 – Bones
07 – Don’t Mess Around
08 – For The First Time
09 – Back At Home
10 – Face In The Mirror
11 – Gypsy Woman
12 – When I Dream
13 – Shout Out Devil
14 – Have Mercy
15 – Bye, Bye My Baby
16 – What Are We Fighting For
17 – First Child Band Video Trailer (Data Track)
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.5/10