Album Review: Left Lane Cruiser – Claw Machine Wizard

Indiana based duo Left Lane Cruiser released their seventh studio album for Alive Naturalsound Records, Claw Machine Wizard, a few days ago, the latest full length follows on from their last album of new material, 2015’s Dirty Spliff Blues and their 2016 compilation, Beck In Black, and it sees the band return to being a duo, as opposed to the expanded line up that featured on their last full length of new material.

The title track kicks things off with a punked up blues number that boasts an infectious amped up distorted blues riff, and from this point in you’re in for a trip that has it’s origins in delta blues, but crucially it takes in additional influences along the way, there are elements of psyche and garage in the mix that are combined with a raw punk attitude to the delivery. Tracks such as Booga Chaka are closer to their blues origins whilst Still Rollin’ and Lately bring a touch of rock swagger to proceedings. But it’s not all swagger and boogie, Indigenous ushers in a sinister element, whilst Liquor Store closes Claw Machine Wizard in a suitably smoky and bourbon drenched manner.

Claw Machine Wizard is an album that will appeal to Left Lane Cruiser‘s established fanbase, and to those who have an appreciation for the bands that populate the roster of labels such as Abattoir Blues Records, their return to the stripped down approach that has been present on the majority of the albums is one that will be welcomed. Whilst there are moments on the album that don’t quite hit the mark this is largely an album that’s born of the blues and is delivered in a down and dirty manner, and the occasional misfire aside this is a another solid album from Left Lane Cruiser.

You can pre-order the limited edition starburst vinyl edition of Claw Machine Wizard here