Ya wanna stand-up singing drummer? You wanna slapping upright bass and a hollow body Gretsch? Well, why dontcha just whack this disc on the turntable, pour yourself a cool one and buckle up for a hot rod ride down Rockabilly Avenue!

On hearing the title track’s twangy guitar and dry snake rattle, the casual listener could be forgiven for thinking that this is the opening to a down home blues album, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but five bars in the pace doubles and, rock and roll fans,  we are off.  All the ingredients are here – the heavy snare downbeat, the pounding double bass, and the fierce vocals, not to mention the echoing guitar solo! What shall I do? I’ll dang well listen to the rest, that’s what I’ll do!

Together since 2007, with numerous live shows under their big-buckled belts, the Royal Flush boys have served us up fourteen high-octane tracks that prove that the spirit of rockabilly is alive and well and living in Switzerland! I know, right, but it’s true. Owing as much to the 80’s Neo-rockabilly revival as to the 1950s originators of the genre, this recording doesn’t let up for a moment, providing aural confirmation that when The Royal Flush describe themselves as unbridled, unleashed and ecstatic, they ain’t lyin’!

Out of the aforementioned fourteen tracks, twelve are Royal Flush originals (nice to see that the whole band receives a writing credit) and two are covers. Stand out tracks include ‘Freight train boogie’, which has a catchy chorus that leans into that ol’ call and response thing that works so well live, ‘When I’m going out’ has a cool Stray Cats vibe about it, and ‘I feel Rockin’ is right on the vintage money and showing it’s Johnny Horton / Grady Martin rockabilly roots.

Produced and engineered at the authentic and excellent Black Shack Recordings in Germany, the album’s title is ‘What Shall I do?’ . Well, rockin’ fans, If you are looking for an upbeat collection of rockabilly originals to add to your listening pleasure, the answer is simple.

Andy Brodie

Buy a copy here