Dr Robert, the The Blow Monkeys main man, has teamed up with soul legend, P P Arnold, for a brand new album of duets.

‘Five In The Afternoon’ was recorded near the Andalusian port town of Motril in southern Spain. The nights were long and the days were filled with sunshine . . . and just a little bit of rain . . .

“I met P P Arnold at a party up here in the mountains near Granada. I was playing some acoustic guitar - a few old tunes, some Curtis songs and stuff - she jumped up on the tiny makeshift stage and blew the place apart. We sang some Hendrix, some soul and then ‘First Cut Is The Deepest’. It was so good. We went away that night determined to make a record.”

‘Five In The Afternoon’ is that record. A career highlight. It’s timeless sound and soulful funkiness are held together by two voices at the top of their game.
‘I Saw Something’, ‘What Am I To Do’ - songs that burst with vigour and belief.

“It was too hot to record during the day so we would start at five in the afternoon. Here in Spain everything starts at five in the afternoon. Bullfights start at five in the afternoon - that’s what the title track is about. It was inspired by Federico Garcia Lorca, the poet laureate of Granada, shot dead by Franco’s falange during the Spanish Civil War, whose poem ‘Lament For Ignacio Sanchez Mejias’ directly influenced the song.”

Other highlights like the congregationally massive ‘Satellite’ and folky funkiness of ‘Be My Judge’ only re-enforce the notion that this is music made for all times. Music on its own terms. No stylists , no A ‘n R men, no marketing guru and no compromise. Just let the music be your guide.
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Listen to PP Arnold’s singing on the beautiful ‘Stay Now’ and dig Robert’s sassy guitar on ‘Nothin’ But Love’. Simple songs of freedom.coming from a timeless place.

Written and produced by Dr Robert, the album has an earthy quality which owes much to the style of the players involved, such a bass player Marco Nelson (Young Disciples) and drummer Crispin Taylor (Galliano) - it was recorded virtually live with very few overdubs. “With players this good and Pat singing, it would have been a crime to do it any other way …”

But this is no criminal record - this is ‘Five in the Afternoon’ and might just be the record of the year!

‘Five in the Afternoon’ will be released in September 2007 on Curb Records

‘Five In The Afternoon’ – Track List

Nothin’ But Love
Be My Judge
What Am I To Do?
Careless Blues
Five In The Afternoon
I Saw Something
Stay Now
Ghost Of Winter
Shape It For Me
Satellite

The players were:

P P Arnold … vocals
Dr Robert … vocals, guitar, bass, piano
Marco Nelson … bass, pedal steel, farfisa
Crispin Taylor … drums and percussion
Tansay Omar … drums and percussion
Robb Appleton … harmonica
Jose Luis Quesada Bravo … saxophone