Amber’s Cash is King EP is music that scratches the classic rock and roll itch with gritty guitar effects, an expressive rhythm section, and pure and easily accessible vocal melodies. If you’re looking for a way to take a trip back to the days when bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Pat Benatar reigned supreme, this music is your ticket to that world.
Kicking off the EP with a truly Cream-era Clapton style riff, the band set the tone immediately. Wondering if this sound would be repeated in the remaining 5 songs, I was pleased to find track 2 Rattlesnake to be more foreboding, reminding me a bit of the Arctic Monkeys hidden gem Dangerous Animals in the dark riffage of the tune. Rattlesnake is truly an exceptional track (my favorite of the EP), with creative changes of beat interspersed among precise guitar and bass work. The track closes with a raucous explosion and several key changes flawlessly executed.
Track 3 again evokes the influence of the Arctic Monkeys’ spooky third album for me, perhaps with a little bit of Thin Lizzy thrown in. The song’s retro finger-picked bass sound cuts through the mix and provides a nice contrast with the more modern-sounding guitar riffs. This melding of modern and retro is a chief characteristic of this time traveling band.
Track 4 is a nice change of pace, with slow chorus-effect guitar and whispering vocals marking a clear contrast with the previous upbeat tracks. The song oscillates between slow ballad style and upbeat rock chorus, taking the listener through a rollercoaster of moods. Then, track 5, Phil’s Picture Palace, switches to a distinctly more Led Zep feel in the guitar tone, drum playing style, and melody. More of a ballad than the other tracks, the song leads us to wonder where the EP will end sonically. Unsurprisingly, the band return to their signature 70s/80s rock riff-driven sound in the concluding track, Moving to the City, to close out the EP with a reminder of their bread and butter.
Overall, Amber delivers rock and roll that isn’t overly complicated but also has enough depth to keep the listener digging in for more. Through simple and pure melodies, gritty guitar riffs, and flawless musical execution, the band have produced something worthy of many ears, especially those that delight in the timeless classic rock sounds of Led Zeppelin, Cream, and Heart.
The Music and Planet Project 
Leave a comment