ALBUM REVIEW: Using the Back Roads to find some French Rock

Facebook can be a really bizarre way of meeting people. Most of the time its actually a positive thing as you build networks of people with similar interests as yourself.

One such FB Buddy is Fabrice Dutour, a French dude, who just happens to be in a rock band called Back Roads. He messaged me recently about their second album “Back Roads II”. And so, intrigued, I gave it listen.

And i’m glad i did.

Fabrice’s band Back Roads, from Lyon, has a definite classic Southern Blues Rock feel about it but with a modernity that isn’t lacking. 2014 saw them release their first self titled album “Back Roads” and their fan base seem to be growing. And once you listen to their sound, you will soon grasp why. One of their high points so far was in 2015, where they where they opened for Band of Friends (ex-Rory Gallagher) at Festiverbant (Geneva).

The first track on Back Roads II,  ‘Frenetic Traffic’, lives up to the name as it just blasts through the speakers with a frenetic pace and drags you along. A fast and furious hard rocking piece of tunage.

‘Lot Lizard’ is up next with pure sassy panache and has a slight Aerosmith edge to it as it slithers along in such a way the title suits the track to a tee.

Then comes ‘Dancing With The Devil’ kicks in with a warm southern, blues imbued style that makes you think of pickup trucks, warm dusty nights, NASCAR, and a bottle of Jack Daniels. I could almost feels a little bit of a Led Zeppelin influence as well. The next track ‘Put you on Hold’, has a nice clean hard rock feel about it which is perfectly complimented by Sylaine’s vocals. It will definitely catch you attention and hold it. Watch out now for ‘Trouble Hotel’ with its slow build up into a funky blues style that will just keep you listening. Its a great wee song full of rhythmic riffage that just keeps driving on.

And then we go ‘Into the Swamp’, with another fast and funky rock track that just delivers a great vibe, with some beautiful moments of pure old Led Zeppelin style music and vocals. Off we go into ‘Free Fall’ with more funk rock that just makes your feet tap. ‘Duel to the Death’ has a wonderful swooping style that powers through to provide another tight track that just oozes southern blues rock with a hard rock edge. When listening to ‘Stop, Blow and Cold’ there is a real AC/DC vibe coming through but with a southern blues rock feel. A great track that is full of great rhythm and riffs.

Finishing off the album is ‘Ship of Fools’, and what a great track to finish of with. The lead vocals, the rhythm, riffs, backing vocals, the pumping drums, and solo all combine to bring you to a climatic end.

Overall, the album is very enjoyable. Back Roads delivers up over 43 minutes of pumping rock and roll that is a pure pleasure and joy to listen to. With this album under their belt they can only go up in people’s estimations. Throughout Sylvaine’s vocals are full of power and emotion that compliment each track beautifully.

This is definitely one for your collection.

Back Roads are:
Nicolas Ammollo (Drums/ Backup vocals)
Sylvaine Deschamps-Garcia (lead vocal)
Fabrice Dutour (Guitar/ Backup vocals)
Franck Mortreux (Bass/ Backup vocals)
Christophe Oliveres (Guitar/ Backup vocals)

All music composed and arranged by Fabrice Dutour
All Lyrics written by Sylvaine Deschamps-Garcia
Recorded with Sylvain de Nicola at Studio La Ruche, France
Mastered by Olivier Didillon at Recordid Studio, France.
Artwork by Guillaume Baylly