Inneke23 & The Lipstick Painters – Elephant Crossing (CoraZong Records).

This is the debut album from Belgian singer/songwriter Inneke23 and her Alt. country band The Lipstick Painters. Inspired by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash and The Jayhawks she has embraced the Alt. country ethos with great verve. They open with Guitar Jesus, a rootsy, solid, happy start and follow it up with the quirky title track on which and banjo (Jimmy Stelling) & fiddle (Buni Lenski) combine to produce a bouncy offering. Fairy Girl is slow and still has that Americana feel despite the use of cornet, played by the wonderfully named Jon Birdsong. It’s Still Raining is more up-tempo in parts and is another quirky one with good harmonies. Neil Young (Harvest period) comes to mind on Oh Sister, although it is a Bob Dylan song – I’m off to get my guitar and play along. The punk influenced Hatesong is angst ridden but with a lot of humour as well.

Purple And Blue is mountain music and a short barn dance to boot. Trojan Horse is slow and moribund but it does creep up on you. Lucinda Williams’ I Envy The Wind is a simple piano ballad but the gap in the middle makes it feel as if you are off into another track. The second phase is more up-tempo with a guitar solo thrown in. O.V.E.R. is old style country/mountain music with top class harmonies and just a little underlying aggression. The Fairy Man has a banjo and drum beginning and is as roots are you are likely to get, hee-ha! Closes with Waiter Of Your Sleep is slow and eerie. Just float off until the end.

http://www.inneke23.be/
http://www.corazong.com/

David Blue.

Sharrie Williams & The Wiseguys – Live At The Bay-Car Blues Festival (Crosscut Records).

This performance is from the 2006 Bay-Car Festival which is held in the North West of France, near Dunkirk. Saginaw resident Williams blows away the audience with her explosive opener, Tell Mama. Lars Kutschke’s guitar rings on this funky version of Clarence Carter’s song that Big Mama Thornton made her own. Big Fall is medium paced soul but Kutschke does pick up the speed a little on his solo. How Much Can A Woman Take is a slow blues and Pietro Taucher steals the show on organ even though Kutschke does try to upstage him. The more I listen, the more he does. Power is all about the voice and builds into a pounding blues with lightning fast guitar breaks.

I’ll Take You There is funky soul and a long one at that. Hard Drivin Woman is a mid paced boogie and I’ll Give You Mine is a slow jazz burner. Just You And Me has Robin Rogers guesting on harmonica and vocals and is a good time blues on which harp and piano feature highly. The final track, Travellin’has a little bit of Bo Diddley in there before it becomes a singalong and then goes off into Gospel shouting before coming full circle back to the beat. Also available is an eight track DVD covering all of the songs on the album apart from Just You And Me. This shows you how much of a stage presence Sharrie Williams has.

http://www.sharriewilliams.com/
http://www.crosscut.de/

David Blue.

Jeff Talmadge – At Least That Much Was True (CoraZong Records).

For his latest release, Jeff Talmadge has gathered some of Nashville and Austin’s top musicians and produced an album that is as gentle as it is deep. Texan Talmadge has a rich experience to draw on for his poetic songs and has worked as a janitor, a Capitol Hill Congressional press secretary, an associate scout for a major league baseball team and a board-certified lawyer. He opens this, his second album for CoraZong, with Never Saw It Go. This is Alt. Country and very easy going. Let Her Go showcases Talmadge’s velvet voice and is some more easy going Country. Wrong Train sets me to thinking that it is going to be gentle sounds all the way through the album. This guy is so laid back and the idea for the song came from a time that he caught the wrong train in Groningen in the North of Holland. He says that he enjoyed the journey even though he was going in the wrong direction and sometimes in life we have to go in a different direction to reach our destination. Austin When It Rains has an obvious drumbeat! However, it picks up only slightly from those that have gone before but does have a sense of melancholy. Bob Dylan’s Girl Of The North Country is played as a lonesome cowboy song with obligatory wailing harmonica. Talmadge says that this is one of his favourite Dylan songs and that he’d always wanted to record it. He should be pleased with the result as the band plays as one.

Because Of You gets him out of first gear – almost. Like the others, this skirts the area between folk, Americana and Country. Train From Amsterdam slows things back down again and is just so easy to listen to. This song came from his thoughts about how much his life had changed whilst on another train in The Netherlands. White Cross remains firmly in the slow lane and mixes Americana with Country. In the US it is common practice for people to place small white crosses at the scene of road accidents and it was spooky that both Talmadge and his friend, Claudia Russell, were both working on a song on this topic at the same time. They thought it would be best if they collaborated and the result is here. So The Blues Would Stay is Americana and very slick. Scrapbook is an almost seamless transition from its predecessor and keeps up the gentle theme. This idea came from Talmadge thinking that every place he visits is like turning the page of a scrapbook. The slightly jazzy Chet Baker Street closes the album and Talmadge doesn’t crank it up, even for the last song. This album is perfect for when you have a few friends around and don’t want the music to completely drown out the conversation but still want to raise a few talking points.

http://www.jefftalmadge.com/
http://www.corazong.com/

David Blue.

Alastair Moock – Fortune Street (CoraZong Records).

Fortune Street is Bostonian Alistair Moock’s fifth album and he presents nine original songs and one cover. The album was recorded in just five days and Moock says that “it was the most fun I’ve had making an album”. The eponymous title track opens this album and highlights Moock’s slight gruff quality to his voice. It’s a sedate opener, played in the open key of E that is firmly in the Americana fold. Yin Yang Blues is a quirky blues and Woody’s Lament is Americana again. These gentle acoustic sounds blend into Moock’s understated guitar and Sean Staples’ vocal. This is a Woody Guthrie tribute with some harmony that confirms Moock’s citation that “Woody Guthrie is the reason I’m a songwriter”. Swing That Axe is old style folk blended with jazz and is a well executed good time song. God Saw Fit To Make Tears is a lovely title and is gentle Americana with a weary vocal from Moock and guitar from The Mercy Brothers’ Michael Dinallo.

Cloudsplitter is played, and sung, in a mountain style. Moock is an excellent storyteller and this song, based on Russell Banks’ novel of the same name, is one of the albums highlights. Roll On (Song For Anne Marie) brings up one of my ‘hates’. Well, I say hates but really it’s just a dislike. I’m not always a fan of ‘Song For’ songs as they tend to be a little too sentimental for me. Not this one though. It’s as gentle as its predecessors but there is little sweetness in there. Kris Delmhorst adds his own vocal talent to this. Own Way To Heaven is old style folk/barroom with a Gospel feel, but just listen to the lyric. Delia is a tale of a gambling girl and highlights a storytelling talent again but Blind Willie McTell’s this time – an epic, with leanings towards the blues. Fishing Tales is a low key finish but that was to be expected given the pace of the rest of the album. This is Country/Folk with his slightly gruff vocal showing up well. The overall feel of the album is one of intimacy and leaves you feeling that you have visited a small, private party.

http://www.moock.com/
http://www.corazong.com/

David Blue.

Paw Paw – Wired OK (Albino Recordings).

This is the debut single from Paw Paw -- one guy, two girls & plenty of synths – oh it’s The Human League. Seriously, Wired OK opens with a Devo Whip It style beat and thumps its way through on a rollercoaster of pop. The other tracks on the single are two versions of Strange Reaction, which is Pet Shop Boys with a bit of Erasure. The second version, the Sam Dread Mix, is just more buttons and knobs. There is room for Paw Paw in today’s pop arena.

www.myspace.com/albinorecordings
www.myspace.com/pawpawmusic

David Blue.

Cliff Eberhardt – The High Above & The Down Below (Red House Records).

This is Cliff Eberhardt’s first album in 5 years and features 12 original songs. The eponymous title track is up first and is roots with a blues/rock punch. It is acoustic led and highlights the gritty quality to his voice. Missing You is slow and brings to mind many other American singer/songwriter offerings of the past – it’s of that high standard. It’s Home Everywhere I Go keeps the pace on the slow side and his voice is easy on the ear. The Next Big Thing is bluesy Americana and The Right Words is a piano ballad that conjures up images of the piano player in the corner of a bar with an upright bass player beside him. After The Rain Falls is an easy paced acoustic song that is short and to the point.

Assembly Line is another excellent understated song which is well constructed. Dug Your Own Grave confirms a Tom Waits feel to his music and shows him as another great American songwriter. Let This Whole Thing Burn has a slight Latin tinge and a strong performance. New Is What’s Come Over You is relaxing and I’m All Right is contemporary Country. The final song is Goodbye Again and it is no surprise that he closes with another quiet song. Most of the album is on the gentle side but having said that, he still manages to show many different facets to his voice.

http://www.redhouserecords.com/
http://www.cliffeberhardt.net/

David Blue.

Mem Shannon – Live. A Night At Tipitina’s (Northernblues Music).

A gushing introduction brings Mem and the band to the stage at Tipitina’s in New Orleans and they open their first live album with Payin’ My Dues. This is funk personified and is a strong & vibrant pounding opener. It’s a surprise that it has taken him so long to bring out this live album considering he does almost 200 gigs a year. Smell Something has bass & drums producing a sound base as the funk continues. No Religion is a throbbing blues that allows Shannon to display his full range on guitar and the band conjure up a storm. The follow up, Who Are They gets us back to the funk and is very strong technically. All I Have is slow and soulful but gives the sax soloists, Tim Green, Joe Cabral and Jason Mingledorff, a chance to shine. Perhaps it is a little too slushy for this hard hearted reviewer.

I Won’t Back Down is the Tom Petty song and I’m disappointed in this as I love the song. Mem’s treatment is not a success despite his strong guitar work. No Such Thing has him back to what he does best – funking up the blues. Keyboard player glides across the keys. Forget About Me is slow soul and heartfelt. His deep voice booms this out. Voodoo is the first of two epic tracks to finish off with, this being just under 12 minutes long. This is a funk-fest with an outstanding rhythm section in Josh Milligan on drums and Angelo Nocentelli on bass. It’s a great version of the Neville Brothers song and the full band is on top form. Phunkville is from his last album and he goes out with a bang on this grinding blues-based funk.

http://www.memshannon.com/
http://www.northernblues.com/

David Blue.

Paul Reddick – Revue (Northernblues Music).

Recently acclaimed as one of the most original singer-songwriters in the blues today, Paul Reddick has had a two pronged attack to his career. He is part of the group The Sidemen and has also launched a successful parallel solo venture. Revue presents us with songs from all stages of his career so far, including some songs that are currently unavailable elsewhere. I’m A Criminal is a throbbing blues, a grinder with grungy harmonica from Reddick. Colin Linden also throws in his not inconsiderable guitar. 2nd Street is played on acoustic slide and harmonica but in a contemporary blues style and boy, do they rip it up at the end. Template Blues is nothing of the sort. It has strong horns and a very clever New Orleans and Delta feel to it -- ultra cool. Villanelle has rootsy mandolin and its simple and fantastic style will make you think that anyone can do it!! Big Not Small has a fuzzed vocal; a rhythmic blues with harp and mandolin to the fore. Colin Linden contributes a heavy bass. Smokehouse is lightning quick and Am I Right Or Wrong has a rootsy homemade feel – a rustic jug band. Rattlebag takes us back to the sophisticated side. We have a fuzzed vocal again but it does come over a little Stevie Ray Vaughan in style with the sliding, smooth guitar. The fuzzed harp from Reddick and jagged guitar solo from Kyle Ferguson are particular highlights.

Train Of Love has a strange introduction and feels as if it belongs to another song. Anyhow, the song gets going into a Country/Americana harp led classic. This will get you going although it has a strange finish too. Queens Hotel has Latin rhythms with horns layer upon layer but still has a bluesy feel to it. ‘Round This Time Of Year is slow and weary Country and Trouble Again is rootsy, gutsy and neat & tidy. Winter Birds is another rootsy offering but difficult to categorise. Waitin’, with its shuffling harmonica, is a blues of high order. Colin Linden’s Hook’s In The Water stays firmly in the Americana field and although quite sparse it is superb. The slide guitar from Linden is haunting at times. Rosemary is jazzy and You Know It Ain’t Right is a breakneck blues where Reddick shows his undoubted class on harmonica as he almost blows himself out. The album closes with The Sidemen Boogie and you can hear the effort put into his harp playing as he delivers a master class. Reddick’s music has been used for films, TV shows and for a Coca Cola Classic commercial. Long may he continue.

http://www.northernblues.com/
http://www.thesidemen.com/

David Blue.

The Eisenhowers – Almost Half Undressed (Serali).

Useless Love is the opening track on this album from another new Scottish band. It is an airy and haunting well crafted song although a little on the long side. Novelty Act has a catchy chorus but the vocalist, Raymond Weir, is a bit light on it although he more than redeems himself on the rest of the album. 25 O’Clock opens with alarm clocks and pinging bass & synths from Paul Gray and Ronan Breslin respectively -- think The La’s or The Coral. and Consequently also has a strange Liverpudlian feel to it and builds the belief that we have another good band on our hands. I can hear Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits and Cosmic Rough Riders in this one. Let’s Not Talk About Me is Indie rock of a high calibre and The Abracadabra Man (no, not Steve Miller) is acoustic Indie rock that borders on folk/progressive rock.

The melodic Jigsaw confirms their professional attitude. If Satellites Should Fall is back to the acoustic side but is one of the weaker tracks. I’m sure that the good idea and eerie feeling behind this song could be re-worked. Mr & Mrs Frankenstein is an eccentric little tune and, remarkably, it works. The quirky vocal is a la Elvis – Costello, that is. If I Had To Make A List confirms their dedication to the melody. Constantinople (or is it Istanbul – ok, my jokes are getting worse) is acoustic with shades of the soft rock of 70s band, America. Plastic Jesus keeps its base on the acoustic side but does creep up on you (no pun intended) and makes for a strong finish to the album. Eisenhowers are superb in parts, due mainly to the song writing skills of Weir; I hope that they haven’t missed the boat.

http://www.serali.co.uk/

David Blue.

Gum – Seven Feeble Alibis (Serali).

I don’t know much about Gum other than the scant information on the CD sleeve and they’ve tried to fox me from the outset by only listing six tracks instead of the seven alluded to in the title. Time Going By is the first and I’ll always champion Scottish bands and the job is made easy when you have good raw materials to work with. This is a strong opener and acoustic based rock seems to suit them to a tee. I think that Leigh Myles’ vocals could fit in anywhere as she is such a good vocalist. Beyond The Horizon is a good slow paced rocker with a stadium style chorus. Cross Your Heart, Hope To Die is another power ballad and they tend to concentrate on the song – no big guitar solos to draw your attention away. Asleep At The Wheel reminds me of Garbage (the band, that is). It’s listed as a remix but the song is not represented anywhere else. What was the original like then? Not the best on offer. Falling Through The Cracks is a slow rocker and is more than passable. Untitled is short and pointless (makes up the seventh alibi and is, as the title says, feeble). They close with Low Flying Kites which makes for a low key finish although pleasant enough. All in all, this is a promising debut for Gum.

http://www.serali.co.uk/

David Blue.

Devon Allman’s Honeytribe – Torch (Provogue).

Son of Gregg Allman, Devon & Honeytribe, hopes to carry the family name on to new heights with this, his debut album for the excellent blues/rock label, Provogue. Torch has eleven originals from Allman and they open with the eponymous title track which is blistering funky rock. Allman’s deep vocal tones are intoxicating and he follows in the family tradition for classy guitar playing. This is a classic rock album opening track. The instrumental Mahalo has shades of 70s style San Francisco rock. If you like your guitar rock then you are going to fall for this so get your wah wah out! You wouldn’t normally expect to find a Bob Marley track on an out and out rock album but Allman’s treatment of No Woman, No Cry is sheer class! It’s hard to take such an iconic song and not do damage but you will love this. When I Call Home is an altogether slower pace and this easy rocker is so slick. Perfect World is a big blasting grungy blues that announces a new star to the firmament. Mercy Mercy has Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar and he burns up the frets. This is stunning as Bonamassa brings a different flavour to the Honeytribe of George Potsos on bass, Mark Oyarzabal on drums and Jack Kirkner on keyboards. Something I Know is slow, stadium rock and Heaven Has No Mercy is a Southern style rocker with acoustic slide from Pedro Arevalo. The up-tempo Why You Wanna Bring Me Down is a rocking blues and the second instrumental, 511 Texas Avenue, shows Allman’s fantastic technique on acoustic guitar. They close with Nothing To Be Sad About, an uplifting, good time blues where the title says far more than I can. This is one of the albums of the year.

http://www.provoguerecords.com/
http://www.honeytribe.com/

David Blue.

Kevin Coyne with Jon Langford & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts – One Day In Chicago (Buried Treasure Records).

This is Kevin Coyne’s last, and ironically a comeback, album; he died on 02/12/2004 after having a long and eccentric career in the music business. All 15 of the albums tracks were recorded within a few hours and it is reputed that he made up at least 10 of them on the spot. The opener, Monkeyheart is a fractured blues with Coyne’s distinctive moaning vocal. This shows that he is no respecter of musical genre. Britischer Cowboy is a waltz, in parts, Americana in others and comic in the lyric. He was certainly his own man, often acclaimed as the British Captain Beefheart. Over Land And Sea is Asian influenced with the wailing vocal now the norm. Songs like this show why he was regarded as the antithesis of pop. Money Like Water is in a country style but also has echoes of Blur’s Parklife and Ian Dury. Way Of The World is dreamy and blues influenced. The acoustic Happy Island Girl has a childlike lyric, “zoom zoom goes the plane and I’m on my way” being a good example of this happy song. By the time I reach Scene Of The Crime I’m scouring my memory to find who his voice is reminiscent of. Cracked it – Alex Harvey. This is another bluesy song but one of his more conformist.

She’s Not There is pub rock with a country bent, English style of course – a rollicking good ride. You You You! keeps up the standard and Harvey, Blur and Dury come to mind again. I’m sorry that I never got into Kevin Coyne in earlier years and I am sure that he is sadly missed by many. However, he is musically survived by his son, Robert, who released his first solo album in April this year. I’ve not tracked it down yet but I’m intrigued to hear if he has taken on any of his fathers attributes. There’s a bit of Van Morrison in Angel, another great song sung with so much feeling. Saviour, the standout amongst standouts, is a rhythmic, pulsating rock track; why he was never a big star I do not know. It is said that he was offered the chance to be Jim Morrison’s replacement in The Doors but turned it down as he didn’t fancy having to wear leather trousers. There is also the tale that he refused the offer to write lyrics for Tubular Bells, now I wish that I could have heard the result of that collaboration if it had ever come off. There are four live bonus tracks, the first of which is Blame It On The Night. This is just guitar and voice and Coyne gives a passionate performance. Fat Girl is blues influenced with Coyne’s twist and black lyrics. Money Like Water (version) is better than the studio version and is altogether impassioned and surrealistic. The last of the live tracks is Karate King and it is here that you can hear how ill he was at the time. His breathlessness comes over very strongly. There is a short précis about how the song is dedicated to a bully called Denis and his acerbic lyric is a fine testament to his writing talent.

Kevin Coyne is the type of artist that probably only Britain can produce but I fear we may never see his like again.

http://www.kevincoyne.de/
http://www.buriedtreasurerecords.com/

David Blue.

Various Artists – Rattlesnake Guitar The Music Of Peter Green (Viceroy Music/Lightyear Entertainment).

This 2CD set is a celebration of the music written by and covered by the genius that is Peter Green. Some of the planets best guitarists gather here to pay homage and offer their versions of some of the best known Green tracks. Black Magic Woman is performed by Larry McCray with scorching guitar and smooth voice and much different from both the original and Santana’s most famous version. Dave Peverett & Rod Price produce a soulful rendition of Love That Burns with free-flowing guitar and a big horn compliment. They also contribute If You Be My Baby, which stays relatively faithful to the original and has stinging guitar from Price. Savoy Brown gives Stop Messin’ Around a jazzy, acoustic feel and Snowy White changes Looking For Somebody completely. Luther Grosvenor, Ariel Bender in his Mott The Hoople days, chips in with Cryin’ Won’t Bring You Back and turns in a slinky blues with grungy lead guitar. The only downside is the extended, repetitive ending. He also plays Merry Go Round in a sultry, ragged manner. Peter Green’s writing allied to Rory Gallagher’s class conjures up a classic in Leaving Town Blues – the addition of mandolin is more than justified. Gallagher is also included with his archetypal style on Showbiz Blues. Harvey Mandell & Wilbur Boscomb play Ramblin’ Pony at breakneck speed and create a great version of one of Green’s best songs. They also contribute Long Grey Mare and funk it up big time – top performance from Bascomb on bass. The task of re-creating The Green Manalishi falls to Arthur Brown and he provides an anarchic performance, as you would expect, that oozes with energy. It’s not all Peter Green originals here as it is meant to be a representation of the music played by him. So, the inclusion of Ken Hensley on Hellhounds On My Trail is not too much of a surprise. This Robert Johnson song is essentially turned into a piano blues with a little acoustic slide guitar thrown in for good measure. A cranked up I Loved Another Woman is from Larry Mitchell & Jay Aston and keeps up the high standard. This is turning out to be a fine collection. Mick Abrahams keeps faithful to the original on The Same Way and Top Topham & Jim McCarty turn in a relaxed version of Drifting. Clas Yngstrom churns out a storming version of The Supernatural and Ian Anderson gives us his obligatory flute on Man Of The World, which is almost Oriental in its execution.

The second CD begins in barnstorming style with Billy Sheehan’s version of Oh Well. This is a fantastic 7 minutes of guitar playing, both electric and acoustic. Vince Converse’s Rattlesnake Shake is competent enough and the guitar pyrotechnics at the end are well worth waiting for. There’s a whirlwind performance of Fleetwood Mac from Stu Harman and his blazing fingers produce a heavy rock blues that Green would be proud of. Zoot Money & Bobby Trench give us a soulful rendition of Watcha Gonna Do. Perhaps Green’s most famous song is Albatross and it is a little strange that it is Paul Jones’ harmonica that is chosen to take the place of the guitar. It is pretty unique although I can’t say that I’m impressed too much and I feel that it loses too much of its impact. I’ve never heard of Naked Blue, who gives us Closing My Eyes. The female vocal is different but I think that overall it is another strange inclusion. Ray Gomez contributes a raunchy Evil Woman Blues and Troy Turner revs up the pace with neat guitar work and a solid vocal on Lazy Poker Blues. Harvey Mandel features again, this time with Jon Paris on Watch Out, a shuffling blues that drifts into cabaret at times. Kim Lembo plays A Fool No More and his smokey voice makes this sultry blues. Although a slow song, this is a powerful performance and Mark Doyle’s guitar playing is as good as anywhere else on this double set. Southside Johnny closes out the album with Baby When The Sun Goes Down, an appropriate track to finish with. This has a big brass backing from The Uptown Horns and the overall feel is one of a Springsteen song – great finish. The excellent sleeve notes from Jim Kozlowski (Viceroy Music) and Pete Brown are a good addition and gives us an insight into how the album was put together.

http://www.lightyear.com/

David Blue.