Mark Harrison – Crooked Smile (Own Label).
Londoner Mark Harrison’s second album, Crooked Smile, is a set of 12 self-penned songs that are as unique as they are original. There are hints of blues, Country and folk to take you by surprise and the results should sit easily with the recent revival in roots music. The opener, Georgia Greene is a gentle, old time, homely acoustic blues and he follows it up with Pearly Gates, a jug band blues. Crematorium Blues is maudlin yet uplifting. Good mandolin playing from Ryan Carr and harmonies from Josienne Clarke. Clarke also adds her harmonic vocals to Mexican Gardener. This is in the same vein as the opener with good quality guitar and a simple drum beat to play behind the slightly political theme. Bombs Coming Down is down to earth and back to basics. Well played, with rapid mandolin from the aforementioned Carr. The gentle feel to the album continues with Lay Your Burden Down. This time Josienne takes the lead vocal and the result is simple music, maximum pleasure. The Demon Drink is another homespun song with an authentic roots feel. Vamped harmonica from Will Greener and mandolin adds to the now familiar guitar signature. Harrison’s vocal style is almost childlike and quite idiosyncratic. The Original Dawg has an original Country Blues feel and this one will creep up on you with its one line chorus. Effective electric guitar over the acoustic makes for a surprising highlight. Honeyboy has a quirky delivery and he sometimes struggles to get all of the words in. Top slide guitar from Harrison and snappy drums from Ed Hopwood. Blessed has prominent slide guitar throughout and highlights Harrison as a top slide and pick player. However, the manic mandolin is what gives this a true air of authenticity and the overall ensemble provides a highlight. Smiler John has more gentle sounds and is a lovely song whereas the closing track, Reckless, is a shuffling Blues based Country effort with a great lead from drummer Hopwood which gave me a warm feeling all over and provides a good finish to the album. The more you listen to this album, there more you are going to like it – believe me!
www.markharisnrootsmusic.com
David Blue.
