Aynsley Lister – Home(Straight Talkin’ Records).

Home is Lister’s 10^th album and the first on his own label. His brand of Blues Rock is showcased on the big, bold eponymous title track, a classy Blues with driving drums from Wayne Proctor. He’s not afraid to funk things up on Possession, Inside Out and Hyde 2612, all of which have standout drums and bass (Steve Amadeo). However, Blues Rock is his forte and Free, Sugar, Broke and Insatiable are fine examples. The classic Feeling Good more than matches Muse’s version whereas the rest flits between ballads (You Make It Real) and Blues (Straight Talkin’ Woman and Impossible). Aynsley goes from strength to strength on this showing.

www.aynsleylister.co.uk

David Blue.

Henrik Freischlader – House In The Woods (Cable Car Records).

Cologne born Freischlader started out as a drummer but hearing Gary Moore on Cold Day In Hell he picked up a guitar and never looked back.  He’s been championed by Joe Bonamassa and it’s easy to hear why; Freischlader is a superb young axeman. House In The Woods boasts 10 original songs covering Blues Rock in its many guises. The eponymous title track is a funky Blues Rock whereas the closing track Won’t You Help Me is a power ballad. In between there is 1999, not the Prince song but with the same attitude as the little purple one with slashing guitar, the power and snappy drums of Sisters and the tough grinding Take The Blame. Ballads get an airing in the form of the whispering Two Young Lovers with Elvis Costello coming to mind and the soulful Breaking My Heart Again with echoes of Paul Carrack. Henrik’s classy guitar shines through on the relentless With The Flow and squeals on Hear You Talking but it flows like a mountain stream on the plaintive Nowhere To Go. Throughout the album the lingering sound is that of Freischlader’s voice which comes from the depth of his soul.

www.henrikfreischlader.de

David Blue.

Doug MacLeod's 20th studio album and his 1st for Reference Recordings.

Doug MacLeod – There’s  A Time (Reference Recordings).

 

There’s A Time is Doug MacLeod’s debut album for Reference Recordings but his 30 year career span has  seen a further 19 studio albums. He opens with Rosa Lee, an acoustic Delta Blues with a shuffling drumbeat. MacLeod is a fine exponent of slide guitar and vocally strong. Other Delta Blues included are the gentle East Carolina Woman with wailing vocal and a certain fluidity about his playing, the mournful Ghost where his voice goes from a whisper to a shout in one line, the slick and sure Black Nights and the soothing tones of A Ticket Out. Country Blues are represented in the shape of the wonderfully titled My Inlaws Are Outlaws with wonderful guitar work and the 12 string driven The Up Song, which is rather mournful despite the title. Doug also ventures into Chicago Blues with I’ll Be Walking On which has a feel of Worried Life Blues to it and the contemporary The Entitled Few. However, Doug MacLeod is a storyteller and he excels on the talking Blues of The Night Of The Devil’s Road which is full of suspense and accentuated by the rhythmic beating on his guitar, the well worked religious debate of Dubb’s Talking Religious Blues and the aforementioned The Entitled Few. The only weak track on the album is the gentle Blues of St Elmo’s Room And Pool but that’s only because the rest of the album is of such a high standard. What comes through on this album, as it always does, is that Doug MacLeod is a consummate storyteller, a powerful vocalist and a superb slide guitarist.

www.referencerecordings.com

David Blue.