Heavy Drunk’s ‘Love & Devotion’ sounds like a cold bath in a searing summer day. Impeccably soulful and cool, Rob Robinson’s guttural passion and the sheer musical nuance make this song an immediate classic piece of soul music.
Based in Music Town, Nashville, Tennessee, Heavy Drunk is the band spearheaded by delta blues artist Rob Robinson, a singer and songwriter who plays some of the nicest and most inventive soul, blues, and gospel around today. Revisiting ‘Love & Devotion’, a single from 2023, in anticipation for his upcoming UK tour with Watermelon Slim and Leonardo Giuliani, we get a chance to dive back down into one of last year’s nicest soul and blues releases, Heavy Drunk’s You Don’t Know Me, their third studio release, and Robinson’s eleventh.
‘Love & Devotion’ is a tight and slow groove, caramel smooth with its gospel choir backing Robinson’s gritty and soulful delivery with timeless oohs and aahs, a horn section gently blaring the gentlest and hottest accompanying leads, while the restrained guitars play tasty rhythm licks, organs keep a steady supply of vibe going, while the bass keeps everything together with a deliciously nuanced and understated performance. The composition of ‘Love & Devotion’ is not to be missed with its soulful ebbing and flowing, letting its true character come through in the jazzy chords here and there, supported by lowdown guitar riffs and the collective effort of the infinitely cool horn section.
You Don’t Know Me is one great-sounding record. Extremely tight with terrific mixes. ‘Love & Devotion’ is in turn a delightful listen that will get fans absolutely ready for the bluesy goodness that awaits in Heavy Drunk’s upcoming tour.
