Xander and the Peace Pirates - Order out of Chaos

May 6th 2022

(Album Review)

*****

A suprisingly beautiful Blues / Rock / Pop album

Xander and the Peace Pirates were formed by brothers Keith and Stu Xander and were discovered on YouTube by former Gibson brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, a unique thing about Singer / Guitarist Keith Xander is that on 'Order out of Chaos', he plays such beautiful complexed guitar with only one hand. He really is a "One handed Wonder", like seems to be stated all over the internet. Being someone that was hit by a car not so long ago and hardly have the use of one arm, I really respect how hard it must be for him. I have personally struggled to play my keyboard, and have not really played my keyboard in the last three years. So Xander is really an inspiration to me, and shows me like Rick Allen (Def Leppard), what you can do if you really put your mind to it.

I don't really know how to classify Xander and the Peace Pirates, they verge on so much different genres from Blues, to Rock, to Traditional Country, to Soul, to Pop, to more. And it's not like with some bands that mix up genres I have to say I had never heard Xander and the Peace Pirates before I got sent it, and I think I am a fan now. But I don't know why I have not heard of them before because they have supported Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Temperance Movement, Ex-Whitesnake’s Bernie Marsden and even Bon Jovi at Old Trafford Stadium home of Manchester United.

'Order out of Chaos' opens up really nicely with a chilled Blues Rock song called 'We Cry'. The vocals on this song remind me of 'Dolphins Cry' by Live. The singer Ed Kowalczyk lead singer of relgious Rock band Live. Listen carefully you can hear some political speeches in the background, so I think the band really had something to say in this song. The second song 'Leave the light On' remids me of some of the love ballard Rock songs by Journey (Steven Perry) era of course, but it verges also on 90's Pop and has a real Retro sound to it. It sounds like it was recorded in the 90's not in 2022. You even hear hints of Prince and the New Power Generation (NPG), Terrance Trent Darby or even Alexander O'Neil on this track. I really can't stop playing this track, I have had it on repeat all day.

'Soul Sailing' sounds like an older fashioned 'Tower of Strength' by Skin mixed with a Terrance Trent Darby or maybe even a Marvin Gaye. Ok maybe it is a little dated but sometimes people want to be reminded of when times where a little better, when music was actually this good. One of the best tracks on the album 'I'm not good of being Bad', sounds like a 90's Soulful Grunge song mixed with recent Matt Goss (Bros) material. A lot of the tracks really have a new Country vibe to it like 'Kiss in the Rain'. and every single one is beautiful.

Especially the spine chilling 'Into the Water', which is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. 'Kiss in the Rain' has a really big sounding chorus, so I probably release this one as a single even though it is a little chilled. I can imagine this beign played on American Rock radio through the night, I think it has this kind of atmosphere around it. This song is a great Country Pop song and reminds me a little of Lawson, Rubylux and even Coldplay (On the guitar sequence... near the end).

This is not an album you would put on at a party, it is way too chilled for that. But it would be perfect for a long journey home, or if you were chilling out in your room reading a book. It's a really nice record of well written and played songs, that you just would want to listen to again and agian. It's a collection of beautiful songs, if your a Pink Floyd fan you would really love the Prog esq. 'Fog' which almost feels like it's sung by David McAlmont. This is one of my personal favourite songs, has a really nice slide guitar sound to it in one place.

They finish off the album with one of the most Blues Rock tracks on the record 'Heart Stop', I have to say this is one of my least favourite songs on the album. But I think this might be a grower, I think the only reason I say this is... because it's the only song on the album that is similar to other bands at the moment (Not that it's not a great track). This song wouldn't grab you into this record, like other album tracks. I have to say this is a really great piece of work, and I will be buying a copy of it on payday.

Review by Dan Devour