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If you are old enough to have enjoyed late 60s British blues-rockers FREE first time around, you’ll most likely love this; if you’re too young, I envy you the opportunity to discover some of the most soulful blues-rock around these days.  Not that brothers Steve and Alan Nimmo, from Glasgow, are derivative, they just – “just”, he says – seem to have a complete understanding of what drove that era, and an ability to translate that to a modern environment.  Yes, they do an exemplary cover of Free’s 1973 hit, ‘Wishing Well’, but they can also conjure up the sound of the George Harrison / Eric Clapton collaboration (‘King And Country’) some of the harder rockers of the early 70s – do I hear a touch of Black Sabbath in there? Yes! – and surprisingly, given that this set was recorded in Austin, Texas with local musicians, just a small American influence, with nice acoustic, dobro and slide on ‘Sneaking Up On You’.  What surprised me most though was the (very successful) early 80s approach of ‘For You’, but the album closes out with a superb roadhouse-rocking rendition of Marc Benno’s ‘Shape I’m In’. May these guys rock for another 17 years – at least!
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Wer gleich im ersten Albumtrack derartig den Blues-Rock Dampfhammer auspackt, darf sich bei solch einem Gitarren-Riff und solch fetten Vocals nicht wundern, wenn man ihn mit GOV'T MULE assoziiert. Die NIMMO BROTHERS, ursprünglich aus Schottland, aktuell in Texas tätig, tun gut daran, sich nur nach den besten Vorbildern zu richten.

Die Gebrüder Stevie und Alan Nimmo, die sich im Zuge ihres neuen Albums "Brother To Brother" die Vocals und die Gitarrenarbeit paritätisch aufteilen, geben mit der Auswahl ihrer Coversongs einen weiteren Hinweis auf ihre musikalischen Vorlieben. Wer sich also des guten alten FREE Songs Wishing Well annimmt und im eigenen Never gonna walk on me gleich noch Paul Kossoffs Mr. Big Akkorde verwertet, gibt genügend Anhaltspunkte, wie es um die Interessenlage der Musiker bestellt ist. Wer es zudem schafft, sich mit einem arrivierten Drummer wie Jamie Oldaker zu verbändeln und für die Hammond B3 Einschübe einen Mann wie Michael Ramos zu verpflichten, weckt beim Hörer genau die richtigen Begehrlichkeiten.

Die Nimmos staffieren ihre traditionellen und lieb gewonnenen Blues-Rock Streifzüge mit fetten und stark verzerrten Gitarren aus, wissen damit ebenso zu gefallen, wie mit ihrer an alten Lynyrd Skynyrd Krachern geschulten Nummer Sneaking up on you oder dem mit gemäßigten Pop-Strukturen liebäugelnden Radiofutter à la For you. Und wer sich mit einem treibenden und zündenden Boogie wie ARC ANGELS' Shape I'm in verabschiedet, beweist Geschmack und hat es mit so einem runden und glücklich machenden Album mehr als verdient, ein offenens Ohr bei Blues- und Southern Rockern zu finden.

"Brother To Brother" will especially appeal to fans of the harder blues rock, where they form the double-layered guitars do, but there is still subtle enough to appeal to a wider audience.
 
The Schotse Nimmo Brothers zijn ondertussen hier in de lage landen al volop bekend, de broers Stevie & Allan traden er immers al meermaals op. Hun stevige bluesrock deed al meermaals Belgische en Nederlandse podia daveren en ook Allan's band King King was vorig jaar nog te bewonderen op het BRBF festival te Peer.

Wat onmiddellijk opvalt bij de eerste beluistering is het hoge Free gehalte van de plaat. Niet alleen coveren ze op voortreffelijke wijze hun "Wishing Well", ook een eigen nummer als "Never gonna Walk On Me" heeft een riff die Paul Kossoff wel zou liggen. Alles klinkt wat steviger en hedendaagser dan in die dagen, zodat ook vergelijkingen met een groep als Gov't Mule zich opdringen. Des te meer omdat naast de gitaren ook het prachtige stemgeluid van de broers wat in die richting gaat van zangers als Paul Rodgers en Warren Haynes . Een andere goed gekozen cover is "Shape I'm In " van Marc Benno, ooit samen geschreven met (vader en zoon) Doyle Bramhall I en II, dat zoals op vrijwel iedere voorgaande Nimmo Brothers cd, ook hier zorgt voor de nodige Texaanse invloeden.

Het geheel werd bovendien opgenomen in Austin, Texas met gasten als de legendarische "Okie" Jamie Oldaker, ooit drummer bij onder meer Eric Clapton en J.J Cale, en Michael Ramos (Robert Plant, John Mellencamp, Paul Simon en Los Lonely Boys) op Hammond orgel. Een misschien wat minder bekende gast is Jimmy Pettit, bassist bij onder meer Joe Ely en John Campbell en door wie we in april 2009 nog aangenaam verrast werden met de uitstekende solo-cd "Vegas Hotel".

"Brother To Brother" zal vooral de fan van de hardere bluesrock aanspreken, daar zorgen de dubbel gelaagde gitaren wel voor, maar toch is er nog genoeg subtiliteit om ook een breder publiek te bekoren.
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This latest Nimmo Brothers gem, arguably their best ever album, was recorded in Austin, Texas.  The brothers are backed by Hammond B3 players, Michael Ramos and Sebastien Vaivrand, bass guitarists Bill Whitbeck and Jimmy Pettit, and Jamie Oldaker on drums.  Alan Nimmo also plays bass guitar on one track and drums on another.

The album comprises twelve tracks, all but two original compositions.  It opens with three typically-Nimmo steady-rockers, ‘Still Here Strumming’, ‘Lady Luck’, and the Free-influenced ‘Coming Round Again’.  The gently lyrical ‘Sneaking up on you’ calms the mood in advance of the slow burning ‘Never Gonna Walk on Me’, which is an absolute belter, with more than a hint of Jon Amor about it.

The mood is slowed by the somewhat plaintive ‘Waiting for My Heart to Fall’, on which the brothers alternative lead vocals, and the introspective ‘All I Need Inside’.

There follows a terrific version of Free’s ‘Wishing Well’ and a cracking rendition of the Benno/Bramhall upbeat rocker ‘Shape I’m In’.

This album is rich in top class vocals and superlative guitar work shared throughout by the hugely talented siblings.  It is already vying for my album of the year and is a must-buy for all blues-rock fans.
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Long acknowledged as one of the UK’s premier live acts The Nimmo Brothers seemed to struggle for years to capture their hallmark twin guitar tour-de-force adequately on CD. Although 2009’s ‘Picking Up the Pieces’ seemed to finally address the problem, subsequent plays revealed a sag in the middle, with inconsistent material and a production quality that still wasn’t quite there, blunting its overall impact. This time around they really do seem to have nailed it. Decamping to The Zone studios in Austin, Texas, where Pat Manske moves up from engineering to production duties, and the recruitment of a team of seasoned pro sidemen has rounded out the sound, helped retain the necessary clarity but brought in a previously unattained depth.

The three-year interregnum hasn’t been squandered either, the Glaswegians having turned in some of their best songs to date.  Everywhere the guitars soar, and the brother’s voices take on an added maturity, less urgent and more resonant than we’ve heard before, and best evidenced in the opening salvo of ‘Still Here Strumming’ and ‘Lady Luck’ which states terms immediately; this is heavy, in-your-face gutsy blues which stands its ground but refuses to compromise on finesse.  There’s plenty of variety though: the slide-driven ‘Sneaking Up On You’ has an authentic Southern feel and could keep company with the Black Crowes’ finest, and the steady paced ‘Never Gonna Walk On Me’ has touches of Led Zep in full stomp mode which should guarantee it a warm reception on stage. This time around there’s no mid-set lull, courtesy of the smouldering ‘Waiting for my Heart to Fall’ which teases, then gathers pace, before finally bursting open in a manner that will be familiar to anyone who knows the Nimmos of old. A fine cover of ‘Wishing Well’ sets up an assured run-out culminating in Doyle Bramhall’s excellent ‘Shape I’m In’, concluding a collection the band should deservedly be pleased with.
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Brother To Brother is the latest release from The Nimmo Brothers. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, The Nimmo Brothers have been around the blues rock scene for over 15 years. Their chemistry and experience show through in spades on Brother To Brother.

The album opens with a rocker, “Still Here Strumming,” and right away you know you’re in for something great. Brother To Brother continues to rock right on into “Lady Luck,” which features great vocals and soloing in what is a definite album highlight. The vocals are fantastic throughout with phrasing at times reminiscent of greats like Paul Rodgers and Warren Haynes. Haynes seems to be an influence on The Nimmo Brothers as “Never Walk On Me” features a riff that would fit great on a Gov’t Mule album. It’s also obvious Free is a major influence on the band as Brother To Brother even includes a cover of “Wishing Well.” It’s nice to hear a modern recording of a 40-year-old song.

Having been around as long as The Nimmo Brothers have it’s a bit puzzling why they aren’t more well known. Brother To Brother has it all with great hooks, incredible playing, and most importantly great songs. It is an impressive release that can not only be appreciated by blues rock fans, but a wider audience as well.  The Nimmo Brothers have proven they are one of top blues rock acts today.
The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks: Still Here Strumming, Lady Luck, Coming Around Again, For You, King And Country

The Big Hit: Lady Luck close

The Nimmo Brothers have been playing together for over 18 years and 'Brother to Brother', their sixth album, reaffirms their musical connection with Texas Blues, with a big sound, lashings of guitar and 9 self penned songs, one co-write and two rather obvious covers. And in temporarily shifting their Glaswegian soul to their spiritual home in Austin Texas, they have surrounded themselves with a stellar line-up of helping hands with Jamie Oldaker (Eric Clapton) on drums; Michael Ramos (Los Lonely Boys) on Hammond organ; Bill Whitbeck (Robert Earl Keen) and Jimmy Pettit (Joe Ely Band) on bass guitar. But while the 'A' team works up some real intensity and heartfelt emotion, it's the quality of the songs that remains pivotal, topped by Stevie's impressive vocals and Alan's fiery leads.

The album title takes its name from a line in the funky opener 'Still Strumming', which sends out a lyrical message of naked defiance, which all but acts as the central theme to the album; 'When then the chips are down and there ain't no other, still here strumming, 'Brother to Brother', I don't care what the new kids play, stand up and we all know that they ain't got much to say'

It's an autobiographical song but delivered with a Texas feel and real swagger as the two brothers go head to head in the company of Austin's finest.

As always, there's an underlying tension to the brothers music, not a competitive edge as you might imagine, but a slight difference of musical emphasis with Alan's penchant for rocking counter-balanced by Stevie intuitive feel for all things Americana. As it is Stevie matches every lick Alan throws at him and brings real feel and angst to 'Lady Luck' as the two scorching guitarists search out every sonic possibility the studio offers them. It's a powerful song with a Paul Rogers feel, a fact that might explain the later cover of 'Wishing Well'. There's also a noticeable heavier distorted tone to the guitars which sends out a message that they are here to nail the licks, explore the grooves and make the most of the feverish riffs of 'Lady Luck' and the chanted hook of 'Coming Around Again'.

With one eye on dynamics and sequencing, the album slips into rock ballad territory as Stevie's musical partner Sebastien Vaivrand adds cool organ on the stop-time 'For You', which is prime FM radio fare. The slide led 'Sneaking On' again features Stevie on vocals, on another big arrangement that is full of burning slide, stop-start verse and a booming chorus, while 'Never Gonna Walk On Me' is probably the heaviest Nimmo's offering yet with pounding repeated dirgy riffs.

It's also the perfect prequel to 'Living Again' the stand out track on the album. The rock solid groove and wall of sound is the perfect foil for the descending slide guitar motif and indefatigable lyrics delivered with real depth; 'I'm not afraid of dying but I'm afraid of being dead'. If you ever wanted snap shot of what this band is about, look no further than this uplifting, pile driving rock-blues workout. In fact, aside from many heartfelt lyrics, this is a very American sounding album with big arrangements, and distorted guitar tones. It's a much heavier album that the previous 'Picking Up The Pieces' but still has the quality control to remain a step ahead of the posse.

'Waiting For My Heart To Fall' is a sweeping ballad and there's still time for some perfectly judged slide and Americana on 'King And Country' - a distant cousin of their previous 'A Better Day' - before a curiously laid back cover of 'Shape I'm In'.

And although 'Brother To Brother' is a successful realisation of the band's American dream, the guitar driven, dirt in the tracks burning intensity still bears their unique Caledonian imprint.

**** Pretty damn fine
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