Whip Masters Instrumental Vol. 4

Whip Masters Instrumentals Volume 4 (Atomicat) Just when you think an album series has reached its conclusion, up springs another volume. Certainly, a surprise given the gap since its last album release, and definitely welcome considering the high quality of its predecessors, Whip Masters Instrumentals Volume 4 sees another round of instrumental tracks compiled for your listening pleasure. DeeJay Mark Armstrong is the man responsible for gathering the thirty tracks included here, bringing together a “stylized” and “rousing” collection that starts in 1955, and finishes somewhere in 1963. As with many of Atomicat album releases, the songs featured include plenty of established names, but where these albums often standout from the rest of the pack is the inclusion of lesserknown figures with equally compelling tracks. First to feature on the album Whip Masters Instrumentals Volume 4 is The Montereys with ‘Rocker’ that begins with chiming guitars and then drums, before developing into a fuller sound where instruments demonstrate respect for each other during this fantastic opening song. From there you will experience further excitement with the dangerous sounding ‘Taylor’s Rock’ from the hands of Bob Taylor and The Counts, to an interesting turn with plenty of saxophone from The Rumblers and ‘Boss’. Broader inclusions under this rock ‘n’ roll umbrella can be heard with bluegrass and country instrumentals from Bill Monroe (‘Wheel Hoss’), and Little Jimmy Dickens with The Country Boys (‘Red Wing’). No rock ‘n’ roll instrumental album is complete without a bit of Link Wray, who features with The Raymen during ‘Turnpike U.S.A.’, making Volume 4 of this album series another fine addition. Nathan Olsen-Haines (Atomicat)