Kokomo: Songs of Love and Not

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * *)

Assured acoustic blues-rock in a folk framework from one of our longest-serving bands.

Singer-songwriter Derek Jacombs can dig into a song in the throaty manner of Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett (but too obviously Tom on the Waits knock-off I Wonder Why) and on the "not" songs writes lyrics which are blunt and searingly honest.

Strong local narratives deserving of a greater audience, and a band as at home on slap-bass folk as barrelhouse rags.

Label: Jayrem