Who is Stuart Turner? Well, he's no stranger to Bluesbunny anyway! Hailing from Rochester, Kent, he rasps and roars as Tom Waits might've done if he was a trucker. His latest album, "File Under Carnal Knowledge", goes some way to prove that he is in fact an illegitimate lovechild of Waits. Who needs proof? Just give it a listen!
My first impression was that Stuart Turner seems to be a swamp monster of some description. Just hear out "Here Be Monsters" and it is essentially a confession, no? It's unlikely that his contemporaries can handle a guitar as well as he does though. Many of Turner's songs are slow to build as if to create a false sense of security in the listener before his marauding roar creeps up on you. Drawing on primitive blues and folk, Turner adds his own modern take (as heard on "The Primark Riots"). However, the penultimate track, "Love Letters", sadly proves my theory wrong. Swamp monsters probably don't do love songs. Turner is helped out by Aimee Grinter on this track, and it works in a MacGowan/McColl sort of way.
The album is, somewhat appropriately, rough around the edges but you get the impression that this album wouldn't be half as good with pristine production quality. As the CD earns scratches from overplaying, you may find the quality peaks before finally becoming unplayable. At this point, you may well need to purchase the CD again.
In a similar mould to Scotland's own Dave Arcari, Stuart Turner's abilities as a growling bluesman are underlined on this album. Fix yourself a glass of something potent and stick this CD on. You'll be surprised how much you'll enjoy it.