Wednesday, February 04, 2009


Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters – Dynomite (Crosscut Records).

Texas born frontman Gonzalez and his multi-national Bluescasters have been performing their brand of blues, swing, rock, soul and funk to audiences throughout Europe and the USA for a few years now and they have transferred that craft onto their latest album for Crosscut. Bad Luck is a slightly low key opening, not normal Bluescasters fare but well played nonetheless. However, Dynomite Nitro has the big R&B sounds that the band have become renowned for and One Day, One Kiss, One Night is a pounding Dave Edmunds style rock n roll. Please Come Home is a slow, swinging blues with strong guitar work from Kai Strauss and highlights Gonzalez’s presence. Strange Kind Of Feeling is bouncy R&B from a tight band held together by the rhythm section of Erkan Ozedemir on bass and Henk Punter’s drums. Slip Away has a big vocal performance and is a soulful R&B.

The Freddie King song Double Eyed Whammy stays in the R&B field that they are comfortable in and Strauss’jagged guitar is a near match for the great man’s. Mary Lynn is an electric blues with a country feel and What’s In A Name is eight and a half minutes of superb harmonica blues -- a highlight! Gonzalez’s voice is on the mark and the harp is of classic proportions with Strauss beefing things up on guitar. D Jump is a harmonica led jump blues and is good party stuff. Lonely Boy is a swinging, electric blues and Fat Boy is a big finish. This instrumental has both guitar and drums to the fore. The only question unanswered is that of whether it is an homage to the Fat Boy Stratocaster.

An excellent follow up to Live In The UK.

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

David Blue.

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