Out now: 'Human Traffic' by Richard Davies & The Dissidents

Bucketfull of Brains Records

About a month ago, I came across this rocking band while listening to Rodney Bingenheimer's weekly radio show on SiriusXM's Underground Channel. I was impressed by the single and had to find out more. Read on below...

After years as a collaborator, gun for hire and band member – most notably with London bands The Snakes and Tiny Monroe – guitarist Richard Davies emerges front and center on Human Traffic.

The first album to feature Richard as lead vocalist and principal songwriter, Human Traffic was recorded during 2019 in Wiltshire, UK, and features appearances from old friends including Tim Emery (Case Hardin, Last Great Dreamers) on bass guitar and Chris Cannon (Mega City Four, The Snakes) on drums.

Initial video, ‘Lay Me Low,’ finds the band working around a new arrangement of an old Shaker hymn, first written down in 1838. ‘Heartbeat Smile’ is a cover of a song by Alejandro Escovedo, while ‘Under The Skin’ is recalled from the Tiny Monroe days.

“Recording this album was something that I’d always wanted to do but never really got round to doing until now,” Richard explains. “Some of the songs are about me, some of them are about other people, but they all capture reality as I see it. I wanted to record an album that was about real life and with all the highs and lows that go with it”.

Richard began his career playing guitar for indie band Tiny Monroe in the 90s, recording several singles, an EP and an album for London Records, touring with The Pretenders, Radiohead and Suede and appearing at the Glastonbury, Reading and T in the Park festivals along the way.

Following this, Richard recorded three albums with The Snakes – Songs From The Satellites, Sometime Soon and The Last Days of Rock‘n’Roll - as the band became major players on the UK Americana scene, picking up mainstream national airplay.

The guitarist has also been called upon to work with Peter Perrett of The Only Ones, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and blues guitarist Bob Bowles.

Track listing:

1. Human Traffic

2. Lay Me Low

3. Way Of The Wild

4. 21st Century Man

5. Heartbeat Smile

6. Long Road (To Your Heart)

7. Echo Road

8. No Master, No Guide

9. Under The Skin

10. No Man’s Land