Little Hat –Wine, Whiskey & Wimmen – Rhythm Bomb Records RBR 6003 

Holland’s best kept secret, indeed!  The sheer sound and dynamic interplay between this trio is astounding, and the wall of retro-but-not-retro-for-retro’s-sake blues sound these practitioners afford is a revelation and high delight, even to someone as this writer who knows the difference between retro horseplay and those who have a high reverence for the blues and approach it with respect and care.

This 14-song blues blast is a joyful kick in the gut that will lend no less than a constantly tapping foot, bobbing head, and broad ear-to-ear smile for the listener.  It’s rockin’, definitely a bit shady in all the right ways, and certainly wired-up with its expansive overall tone.  It drives, jolts, and excites, as it bowls down its path of blues and boogie glory.  Think Little Victor but a bit more ADD!  By the way, Little Victor is the producer of this blues glory amalgamation.  It’s unyielding in its pursuit to thrill and gratify, and inclusively, there’s just a whole lot of good going on here.

And this writer must convey that a glance at these fine gentlemen comprising Little Hat via the CD cover suggests a whole lot of collective scampish grandeur abounds!

With vocals and harmonica, drums, and guitar plowing forward by Machiel Meijers, Paolo de Stigter, and Willem van Dullemen, respectively, no bass guitar would dare interfere with the musical magic raging here!  This trio is all-inclusive!

Feverish, definitely eccentric, and most positively highly enjoyable, this is that CD you put in the player at your house party, push the furniture to the walls, and commence to cutting a rug.

Should this fine trio make it to the U.S. shores, I’ll be there first in line to get a prime table wherever they play, and all in attendance will want to bring their dancing shoes.  This CD is simply one whole heck of a lot of blues fun!  Pick it up!

Highly recommended!