SPIBY, PETE - Failed Magician (Sealed) (2CD)

Spiby is probably most well known for being the leader of Black Spiders - renowned for the face melting rock n roll and unmatchable swagger. Groop Dogdrill were pure, uncut, weapons grade alt.rock napalm and Future eX Wife lovingly crushed anyone and anything in their path. "Failed Magician" is the title of Spiby's new solo release; it's not a concept album about sleight of hand tricks gone awry, accidentally sawing an assistant in half or drowning before a horrified studio audience. There comes a time in a man's life when the blues become mandatory listening and this in turn has informed his new songs. "I have sorrow in my pocket and exorcising the ghosts is a way out of the darkness," Spiby says. "There were a lot of deaths in rock during 2017 that made me think about mortality, depression and life. There's a thread that goes through all of this and it's basically a collection of domestic blues songs, sometimes seen from both sides of the story." He assembled a crack team to help bring his ideas to life in the studio with Matt Ellis at the production console. "It's quite a mixed bunch of losers really," he says. "All solid musicians and amazing people : Luke Athiko (The Defiled, guitar), Simon Bismark (Daken guitarist, bass) and James Maiden (Future ex Wife, guitar). Then there were three drummers : Simon Smith (Wedding Present/ChaCha Cohen), Tony Arthy (The Wonder Stuff) and Richie Mills (Cable/ Imogen Heap). Danni Maibaum (Double NoNo/ Dirty Blood) recorded some vocals. Adam Thistlewaite (Massive Wagons) and Lee Storrar (Servers) guitars. And his kids too.