During the first half of 2025, The Rockerati made their mark on the rock underground with the help of two excellent singles. The first, ‘Analogue Again’ set a great pub rock sound in place; loaded with solid riffs and a melodic edge that called back to the likes of Rockpile, it showed how the Brighton based act valued great influences more than they valued the notion of perceived “coolness”. That school of thought went into overdrive when the band dropped a bunch of Quo-esque riffs into the great ‘Big Dog’; with a bigger sound in place, the track demonstrated how tough The Rockerati could sound with an increase of both power and volume, and how solid playing will often trump originality.

Neither single has pride of place on the ‘Black Book’ EP, unfortunately, but for those who enjoyed those numbers, the four tracks that make up The Rockerati’s June 2025 release should bring an equal amount of listening pleasure. With a wall of chiming guitars used to create a fine introduction, ‘Little Black Book’ presents a different sounding band yet again. Here, an arrangement that’s semi-influenced by an old Merseybeat track or two makes The Rockerati sound more like The Scruffs which, in turn, makes it even more obvious why some of their earlier work has received an enthusiastic response from a few US radio stations. The mid tempo, the huge harmonies and dominant guitar sound come together to create something that’s classic sounding from the get go, and even with a slightly wobbly vocal, the combination of familiar melody and simple hook sets the EP off with its best foot forward. Despite being borne from the south coast of England, this sounds like something destined for Little Steven’s Underground Garage, ready to have love heaped upon it from the legendary Michael des Barres and friends. With its layered vocals and jangly guitars, ‘Sentimental’ sounds, at first, like it’s about to share 60s pop of a different kind. Then, after the intro slides into a busy verse, with the help of a rocking bassline and stabbed piano The Rockerati unveil far more of a 70s sound. The vocal tones make it very recognisable as another Rockerati piece, but there’s a glam-ish/bubblegum-esque swagger here that makes the number sound like a distant cousin of the Chapman/Chinn universe, and occasionally like The Rubettes in a noisy mood. Or at least that’s the case until a sharp edged lead guitar threatens to derail everything, bringing a few even more rocky chops to the fore. It’s big, it’s sort of cheesy, but in keeping with the band’s underlying sense of fun, it’s also a track that sounds good when played loudly.

Changing the mood, ‘Go Around The Sun’ reverts to the band’s beloved high octane pub rock sound, and a wall of chopping rhythm guitars and fiery lead work both help to drive a great, almost timeless melody. Although much rougher around the edges, the heavy reliance on rhythm guitar work and a reverbed vocal revists the Dave Edmunds-esque sound of ‘Analogue Again’ – this time delivered in some bigger musical boots. It may well stick within the tried and tested, but if you’ve journeyed with The Rockerati thus far, this track will be an instant favourite. Last up, ‘Oneway Ticket To Funtown’ throws the band headlong into a world of trashy riffs where a rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic colours another high energy pub rocker. Easy comparisons can be made with Rockpile and Ian Gomm, yet again, but the overdriven guitars, solid rhythms and – ultimately – the guitar break that tears through the centre of an already high octane workout with some furious sharp edges, creates something that’s “pure Rockerati”. It’s a great number before the climax hits, but the repeated shouts of the title close this short release with, arguably, its biggest earworm. In and out in two minutes, this leaves nothing to chance, and its combo of chugging riffs and frantic basslines really sets about clearing the cobwebs.

Championed by the likes of Uncut and Vive Le Rock, The Rockerati have carved their own groove through the heart of the retro scene, and the best tracks on ‘Black Book’ make it easy to hear why the they’ve secured a few champions on their journey. Pick this up for ‘…Funtown’, then spend some valuable listening time getting to grips with rest of the material: everything’s good in its own way, and heard together, it creates a great showcase for each of the band’s major influences. Then, if you find yourself hankering for more, hit the repeat button; everything here holds up well over several repeat listens. Then, if you’ve missed them previously, circling back to check out the pre-release singles is strongly advised. It would be a great pity if those got lost in a sea of digital releases… Granted, ‘Black Book’ doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but then, it never aimed to; for lovers of a solid and retro sound, it’s an EP that’s pretty much guaranteed to bring listening pleasure.

June 2025