The Dirty Aces – One Good Reason (Blue Filth Records).

Jersey based Dirty Aces have been building a following of their tough style of blues over the last year or so. Renowned harmonica player Sugar Blue has said “You cats play like you mean it” and that sums up this 5 track mini album. The opener, Dollar & A Quarter, which is a reworking of an Otis Spann song, has a strong harmonica presence and the overall delivery is much akin to Rory Gallagher. One Good Reason is a funky blues and harmonica player, Giles Robson, is very much the frontman but he might have to do something with that name – not very blues, is it? Been Mistreated is another Rory Gallagher style blues and Sonny Boy Williamson II’s (Rice Miller) You Might Do Without Me is a slowish blues where the guitarist, Filip Kozlowski, gets to strut his stuff also. They close off with One Day Soon, which is another powerful electric blues – good British pub blues.

http://www.thedirtyaces.com/

David Blue.

Dani Wilde – Heal My Blues (Ruf Records).

21 year old Dani Wilde hails from Brighton and this is her debut for Ruf. Don’t let her lack of years lull you into thinking that she can’t sing the blues. She has a voice that suits a gritty blues and a crystal clear delivery that can deal with the most intense ballad. Bring Your Loving Home is a driving blues rock with a jazzy chorus and label mate Ian Parker on guitar. Will Wilde also chips in on harp. Heal My Blues has a strong vocal and she certainly knows her way around a fretboard too. It’s just what British blues needs -- a young female who can play as well. Come Undone is a swinging blues with mucho power from such a small frame and Parker weighs in with some telling guitar. I Love You More Than I Hate Myself is an expansive slow blues that draws out all the emotions. Could it become a classic? I Want Your Loving, another pulsating boogie, is a vehicle for the voice this time although Parker is there to help out again.

Testify is punchy with a gritty vocal. In The Mood is the old John Lee Hooker song and she gives it a slightly different treatment to those that I’m familiar with but well played. Norman Whitfield’s I’m Going Down is piano led and a powerful ballad with her strong voice betraying some emotion in parts. Slow Coach is a jaunty country blues and she swings up the classic Junior Wells song, Little By Little. She gets a big help from harmonica player Will Wilde on the latter. People Like You is an acoustic finish. Low key but a very good song indeed.

http://www.rufrecords.de/

David Blue.

Eric Bibb – Get Onboard (Telarc).

Recorded in Nashville, Get Onboard has been on the production line since May 2007 and Bibb says that it has been one of the most exciting projects of his career. He hits the nail on the head when he says “It’s a further exploration into the place where blues meets gospel and soul”. He uses the best session musicians around as well as special guests Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster. The soulful and spiritual Spirit I Am is a great opener and Bibb’s sweet voice will smother you in honey. The Promised Land is bluesy and bouncy and New Beale Street Blues is a jazzy, New Orleans blues. The latter is another tribute to the great city that is still recovering from Katrina. The eponymous title track has a vocal that is so sweet and so clear. It also has great harmonies and he has more soul than heaven itself. If Our Hearts Ain’t In It has Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar and a big production to match. All I can say about Pockets is that it is an Eric Bibb song if there could ever be one. The voice, the gentle approach and the understated instrumentation are his hallmarks.

The gentle acoustic vibes continue with River Blues, which is not, as the title suggests, a blues in the truest meaning of the word. This is followed by Deep In My Soul and that’s where he has rested. Folk, country, gospel it covers so much. Conversation is a slow, precise and heartfelt blues duet with Ruthie Foster and the understated brilliance of God’s Kingdom has, as the title suggests, Gospel overtones Step By Step stays much in the same vein and the final track, Stayed On Freedom, lifts the pace a little with a country blues. This arrangement of the Civil Rights anthem, which in turn was adapted from a traditional spiritual, hits the spot

Eric, and his producer Glen Scott, may just have unleashed a future classic.

http://www.ericbibb.com/

David Blue.

Miyagi – Lucky Face (Own Label).

Up and coming Edinburgh band Miyagi have started their serious recording career on a promising note with thirteen self-penned songs on Lucky Face. Dirty Little Monkey confirms that this band will be hard to pigeonhole and that is no bad thing. It is almost childlike in parts but the harmonies on the chorus are crisp and it is instrumentally sound. It’s As Easy As Lying has a Crosby Stills Nash & Young beginning and it speeds up with the introduction of Ally McNaught on saxophone. It could be split into two songs very easily – country rock & funk. On Grow So Tall the introduction of the Madness style sax breaks is welcome, if not totally necessary. However, this is a good song with a unique delivery that will only get better. All Good Reptiles Go To Heaven is a gentle acoustic instrumental with some added cello from Claire Schiavone. She also adds vocals to Cry Cry Cry, which is back to the full band with Andy Duncan on drums improving track by track. He really keeps this band together. This song is a wall of sound with Euan Bruce sounding like a banshee on harmonica. Minnie Gemmil’s is short, acoustic and ok.

Dead Man’s Hand is vibrant and shouldn’t really be a favourite, but it is and Dragonfly is another powerful song with Byrds style harmonies. Tomorrow has a different vocalist and is modern folk with a little bit western influence. They may be hedging their bets but whatever they are doing they have added another string to their considerable bow. It’s played at a good pace but maybe could be better at a slightly faster tempo. Somebody’s Daughter is psychedelic Byrds and All The Way Home is West Coast American 60s acoustic folk rock. Apeman has a very Dexy’s Midnight Runners opening. It’s a strange one but it will grow on you. It builds up throughout and there’s that drummer again! You Think, I Am has them still surrounded in 60s psychedelic rock and the last track, Sugar Cane (Queen Bee) confirms that they were born in the wrong era.

Miyagi would have been massive in the late 60s, let’s all hope for a revival.

http://www.miyagimusic.com/

David Blue.

John Power – Stormbringer (Tanuki Tanuki).

John Power, for those who don’t recognise the name, was the bass player and public face of The Las’s and frontman of Cast whose album, All Change, was the biggest and fastest selling debut album in the history of Polydor Records. However, that was 13 years ago, don’t you feel old, and he has now put out an album that he considers to be “the most comfortable, wind-in-my-sails recordings I’ve done…it’s folk music, grassroots music”. He opens with Ain’t No Woman, which has a rasping tone to the vocal and he certainly gets some venom into it. It is unmistakably Liverpudlian and follows on well from his La’s days. Calling You Back has a homemade and bluesy feel and allows him so much freedom. American Dream has slide guitar, which re-visits the blues feel and it is lyrically strong and rustic. The title track is played in a jug band style and still has that thread of blues running through it. Distant Eyes is a different style – a more traditional folk tune this time. It is understated and brilliant – he has certainly hit a new, rich vein of form. Good Life is back to basics again – short and snappy. Fire In My Heart has him flirting with folk music again and this is a dirge in the truest sense of the word. Tombstone lifts the beat, despite the title and Cockerel Crow has a strange up and down timing. Come In The Morning has a little brass backing – a cross between colliery bands and New Orleans. It still has that easy, homemade comfortable feel and has a mixture of styles including a little yodel. Power may have just found himself another little cult niche.

http://www.thisisrude.com/
http://www.johnpower.uk.com/

David Blue.

Monte Montgomery – Live – At Workplay (Provogue Records).

Monte Montgomery has been described as “The Evel Kneivel of Guitar” and “The Acoustic Shred Master” and on listening to this live album I can understand why. Recorded at The Workplay Theater, Birmingham, Alabama the album opens with 1st And Repair, which immediately establishes him as a strong live performer. His fluid acoustic guitar playing is added to just enough grit in his voice to make an excellent all round package and give us another guitar wizard on the block. Let’s Go is blues rock and not too bad at that. Shock is another blues rock but this time with a funk edge. The only criticism is that he does lose himself sometimes in those amazing guitar flurries. He’s a bit Bob Dylan on Wishing Well – folk rock on the rock side with an extraordinary guitar solo. He gets a well deserved big round of applause for this. All On Me slows things down for the first time and he is able to show how good a vocalist he is. The guitar speaks for itself – stunning!

I don’t know why but I think of Neil Diamond when I hear Come Away. If anyone can illuminate on this then please feel free. Acoustic guitar is Montgomery’s weapon of choice and what a supreme choice it is. There is no quarter given on Splitsville and no respite in the pace. Churning bass from David Piggott is remorseless. Back To The Country is country rock as the title suggests. There are a few errors creeping in but he does play so fast and he can be allowed a few minor ones. How The Story Goes is one of the few slow tracks and he just changes things enough to make it hard to classify him. The Book makes it two slow ones on the trot. This is good soft rock with those lightning fingers again. He must have burned himself out because the final track makes a trio of slow pacers. He manages to build up Bringing Me Down into a stadium style rocker however. The slow and quiet passages have the audience in the palm of his hands and he produces an epic to end with.

Don’t let the guitar heroics get in the way of his vocal and songwriting talents; Monte Montgomery is the complete package.

http://www.montemontgomery.com/
http://www.provoguerecords.com/

David Blue.

Betty Harris – Invitation (Evidence Music).

60s legend, The True Soul Queen of New Orleans, Betty Harris has released a debut solo album filled with 16 original songs on Evidence Music. She is probably best known for her version of Solomon Burke’s Cry To Me and was under the wing of Big Maybelle in her early years. She recorded often with Alain Toussaint and toured with Otis Redding on what was to be his final tour. After a few years in retirement to raise a family her daughter found a number of internet sites devoted to her and coaxed her to start performing again.

Is It Hot In Here brings immediate comparisons to Tina Turner but this mid paced R&B/rock is good enough in its own rite. Isolation (Someone To Hold) is R&B/soul and nothing out of the ordinary. Intuition is slow but it’s certainly no ballad. Her vocal is deliberately slurred at times and the subject matter is certainly a bit different. Backing vocals from Bekka Bramlett, who wrote the lyric, are a welcome inclusion. Still Amazed is a raunchy R&B and a Rolling Stones song if I’ve ever heard one. It was written by the same team that wrote Midnight Train for Buddy Guy, Jon Tiven and Roger Reale. Buddy Miller lends his not inconsiderable talents on vocal harmony and lead guitar. Since You Brought Your Sweet Love is a duet with Freddie Scott and the Tina Turner likeness re-surfaces. A Fool Can Always Break Your Heart is another Stones style R&B and probably the strongest performance here. With lyrics by Keith Reid, who produced some of the most recognisable words in popular music history – A Whiter Shade Of Pale, how could it fail?

You Do My Soul Good is slow and soulful. Guitarist Jon Tiven goes off on a riff but the song doesn’t really go anywhere and there’s not enough variety. How To Be Nice is mid-paced R&B, Who’s Takin’ Care Of Baby is sultry R&B and Time To Fly is a Bonnie Bramlett written grinding soul/R&B with attitude. It Is What It Is – how philosophical! Written by Jerry Ragavoy, this needs to be paid attention to. Need, a collaboration with legendary songsmith Don Covay, is classic soul and I love the feeling behind it – take it and shove it! She Stays On is a tale of domestic abuse and a slow soul/R&B that a number of artists have tried to record but Betty is the only one to have nailed it. She did not want any Gospel songs on the album but Tell It To The Preacherman, although it flirts with religion and you would think from the title that it would be overtly holy, is good old style R&B and one of the best on the album. A Bible And A Beer is very rousing. The Tina Turner comparisons will still be around but she is her own woman, as shown by the fact that she originally had reservations about recording the song as her mother is a preacher. The album is finishing strongly and Happiness Is Mine, co-written by Betty, continues with the more up-tempo beat to end with.

http://www.evidencemusic.com/

David Blue.

Danny Bryant’s Redeyeband – Black And White (Continental Blue Heaven).

Hertfordshire born Danny Bryant has been plying his trade with his Redeyeband for the last nine years and those have produced over two thousand performances. It is that hard toil that has now reaped deserved recognition for Danny and his band. His performing credits include playing alongside Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Greg Allman, Buddy Guy, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Black And White is their sixth album and follows the massively popular Live album which has hit the I-Tunes Top 10 blues charts in six countries. 10 original tracks start with Tell Me, a grinding blues rock with searing guitar. It’s good to know that there are a number of top class young blues guitarists coming through and Bryant is in the forefront. Between The Lines is slower than the opener but still has that grinding blues feel. Love Remains is the ballad! There’s a bit of Axl Rose in his vibrato and the song is good enough as he follows the formula but the extended solo is the highlight.

Twenty One is a strolling, rocking blues with another scorching solo. Any Wonder is a power ballad and he is just getting better and better. Low Down Blues is an uncomplicated chugging blues and he continues to swap slow tracks with more up-tempo ones on Walk Away. This is acoustic led and very good despite its simplicity. I do like his guitar style and he is becoming more and more of a favourite. Old Blues Song has a bit of Joe Cocker in the vocal and it’s another slow one with yet another strong guitar solo. This type of blues power ballad could be called pastiche or passé nowadays but it still gets my vote. The penultimate track, Last Goodbye is a blues based 70s rocker and the closing title track, Black And White is a low key, acoustic finish – good song though.

Danny Bryant is one of the best guitar players that I have heard this year and that’s black and white.

http://www.redeyeband.co.uk/

David Blue.

Larry Miller – Outlaw Blues (Big Guitar Records).

Guildford’s finest, Larry Miller, releases his fifth album, 10 self-penned tracks of blues rock that opens with Shame On You. This is a rocking opener and gives an early indication of his no nonsense style. He comes out as the modern equivalent of a blues shouter and no mean guitar player either! Crank up the volume on this one. Writing’s On The Wall has a long lead in before the band, ex-Jethro Tull rhythm section Scott Hunter on drums & bassist Neil Sadler and Matt Empson on keyboards, join in and boogie it up. This is good, honest music and Miller’s guitar is in flames! Calling All The Angels is a blues ballad and as good as any I’ve heard and he shows that his playing can be delicate as well as full on. Rebekah is a storming boogie and Storm Comin’ is a Hoochie Coochie Man revamp. This has a classic style of blues playing and Miller snarls out the vocal. Professor Casanova is mid-paced and not really too much to get excited about although the guitar work is pointed and snappy. Only One Woman I Want is a solid boogie and Outlaw Blues does what it says on the tin with a Canned Heat beat. Blues Forever is completely slowed down and shows that he can be heartfelt too and his sympathetic playing finishes the overall feel. The closing track, Klondyke, is played solo on dobro and is such a powerful performance that you almost forget that you are listening to one guy. British blues rock is safe in the hands of Larry Miller.

http://www.larrymiller.co.uk/

David Blue.

P-A-U-L and The Harper Woods Heroes – Hangin’ On For Dear Life (EE Records).

P-A-U-L stands for Paul Andrew Ulysses Lamb and the Detroit born guitarist’s debut album has 10 original tracks of high quality blues rock. You Pulled The Trigger is a heavy opener and plods along in a 70s rock style. Platinum Blonde Jesus is much in the same vein with strong guitar work from Lamb. Kiss My Scars stays in the heavy area and confirms the bands status as no nonsense rockers. One Last Slow Dance is the obligatory slow one and Lamb’s voice sounds like he’s been chewing glass. It’s back to the mid-paced rock for Pretty Please. Monique is power all the way and Dead In El Paso is blues based and has a stop, start delivery that matches the best in the genre. Freedom Rider is more upbeat and a steady rocker, Serenity is funky and Hangin’ On For Dear Life is a muted blues. It’s just electric guitar and voice for the latter and is very soulful. The last 45 seconds or so has the full band but it makes it like two separate songs and I can’t understand its inclusion. A bit of a pointless ending to what is, overall, an excellent album.

http://www.p-a-u-lmusic.com/

David Blue

Dave Fields –Time’s A Wastin’ (Fields Music Inc).

Son of the noted composer Sammy ‘Forever’ Fields, Dave Fields has been around the New York music scene for some time. His father was prolific in the 1950s, writing Who Wears Short Shorts, amongst others. Fields junior has followed in his fathers footsteps and has written music for the 2004 Olympics, VH-1, The Today Show and NBC Sports. Time’s A Wastin’ is his second album and one full of originals. The opener, Let’s Get Shakin’ is a high tempo rock n roll/blues crossover with a flurry of notes that has already declared his credentials. Keep It Up is a down and dirty blues with prominent harp from Rob Paprozzi. You Don’t Know has a more sedate pace to it but this blues based rock has a scorching guitar solo. The upbeat blues of Don’t Look At Me That Way is standard stuff and Do Me Now has some rhymes that are a bit too much for me – definitely a filler.

Rabbi Blues is musically strong and has a first for me, a Hebrew chorus – Jews Blues! He is a highly proficient guitarist so all air guitarists should be at the ready. I expected high pace, ears bleeding rock on Frenzy but all I got was a mid-paced rocker. However, he does confirm his guitar excellence. DF’s Blues is a guitar instrumental. It’s a jazzy blues with an easy style as he floats between a shuffle and full on blues. I’ll Do You Right is a mid paced blues rock with a laconic solo and Do Do is introduced in a big band style. He brings in Paparozzi on the harp again for this and the song has it all. Just a bit more power in the vocal would have sealed it. Rockin’ At The Barbeque has a staccato guitar beat and tends towards rock n roll. However, it doesn’t live up to its potential despite some fretboard trickery. The Cure is the final track and is played on dobro. A solo blues with improved vocal power and extra emotion. Slide guitar is a welcome inclusion and Fields excels on all guitars.

Dave Fields is not wasting his time with this album.

http://www.davefields.com/
http://www.fieldsmusic.com/

David Blue.

John-Alex Mason –Town And Country (Naked Jaybird Music).

After spending his teenage years listening to blues records and being blown away by live performances by Johnny Winter and James Cotton, it is no surprise that John-Alex Mason took up blues guitar. However, it was after listening to The Complete Recording Of Robert Johnson that his particular love of solo country blues artists began. This is John-Alex Mason’s fifth full length recording but the first to reach my desk. He splits the album roughly in half with original songs and reworkings of classic and traditional tunes. Shake ‘Em On Down (OMB) has a voice that belies his youthful looks on the cover. Electric Delta blues and OMB stands for One Man Band – simple and powerful. Steel Pony Blues is also Delta style but acoustic this time. This is a modern response to Charley Patton’s Pony Blues and proves him to be the real deal. Bury My Boots has him playing acoustic slide and we could have a real rival for current guitar kings such as Joe Bonamassa. Terraplane Blues is a different take on the Robert Johnson classic. He has a clear vocal and this treatment is clinical & professional. The acoustic thread continues with Boll Weevil and this country slide blues is made to sound so easy by a master of his instrument. Chef Menteur is sedate but the feeling behind the song, a tribute to the people of New Orleans and how everyone was touched by what happened to the city, is well meant. Strange Things is played out on the dobro, as are a number of others, and is a bit more urban than its predecessors. Having said that, he is still firmly rooted in the Delta.

Milk Cow Blues is another famous song, well played. He manages to inject some much welcomed emotion into this vocal. There’s a return to electric guitar for Locomotive and I’ve worked out the code on the back of the sleeve. The titles with pale print are electric and those in black are acoustic or, if you like, Town & Country. This is vibrant and he lets it rip on the vocal. What Are You Hungry For? is another pumping tune with drums complimenting perfectly. The drums pound out a heartbeat for Rabbit Song, a pared down electric offering with emotive vocals. Jitterbug Swing has Southern influences throughout and there is a telling introduction of bass about half way through. This is a good arrangement of a traditional song. The Skip James classic Cypress Grove is slow and thought provoking. Mason will be a star of the blues if he continues in this form. There are no big solos, just top class picking and slide. You can’t play an Elmore James song at anything less than 100% and Shake Your Money Maker is no exception. This has been covered by many but I can’t remember any better than Mason’s version. It’s just guitar and drums and is the shortest track on offer but it will get you going. He closes with an acoustic version of the opening track, Shake ‘Em On Down. John-Alex Mason will hold your attention by himself very easily. This is real music for real music lovers.

http://www.johnalexmason.com/
http://www.nakedjaybirdmusic.com/

David Blue.

Joe Bonamassa @ The Arches, Glasgow 28th February 2008.

Guitar wizard Joe Bonamassa rolled into Glasgow and filled The Arches with a wall of sound that not many will ever equal. He said that his love affair with the city started two years ago at The Renfrew Ferry. I was one of the 125 fortunate souls to see him that night and I’m not surprised that this time around it was an 800 sell out. He has improved his rapport with the crowd although they could have been a little more respectful during some of the quieter periods when Joe pleaded with them for silence. His guitar prowess has also improved and I am convinced that he has now reached the higher echelon of players. The highlight of the night was the title track from his current album, Sloe Gin although Don’t Burn Down That Bridge and Another Kind Of Love rubber stamped the feeling that we were in the presence of something special. Throw in a version of ZZ Top’s Just Got Paid and you can imagine the night we had.

http://www.jbonamassa.com/

David Blue.

Velvetone – Yip Yip (Crosscut Records).

Hailing from Bremen, Germany Velvetone is a band that could easily have come out of the heyday of American rock n roll. The band has added new drummer, Stefan Ulrich since their last album and he has helped maintain their vitality.

11 of the 14 tracks are self-written and the opener, Desperate Heart, has a full sound and they still have Tammo Luers’ killer guitar tone – a very 1960s theme. The Kooler still has those vintage sounds and signature vibes. Lil’ Bad Thing is a cranked up rockabilly in The Stray Cats style and Mighty Hand is a mid-paced rocker with Johnny Cash attitude. Smuggle has a very clean sound, very much down to the production of Velvetone and The Zumo Kings. This R&B also has the 60’s very much stamped all over it. It’s back to rockabilly for Buddy Killen’s It Ain’t Right and their energy levels reach new peaks with this.

Jack Clement’s Guess Things Happen That Way is played in a slow country style and Limbo Moon continues the slow pace, this one being a grinder. However, it’s not too long before they are back at what they are best at and the rockabilly of Paycheck is one of the albums highlights. Seven is straight out of a 60s Western soundtrack with updated Hank Marvin guitar sounds and Ray DeVaryo’s velvet voice. There are more 60s rock n roll sounds on Hot Rod Killer and Hurt Me No More is a sturdy rocker. Sandford Clark’s Go On Home is a slow country/rock n roll crossover and the eponymous closing track is a reverb festival. Yip Yip, shake your hip – a frenetic and fantastic way to finish a more than able follow up to 2004’s Switchback Ride.

http://www.crosscut.de/
http://www.velvetone.de/

David Blue.

Blind Boys Of Alabama – Down In New Orleans (Proper Records).

Four time Grammy Award winners The Blind Boys Of Alabama have recorded in New Orleans for the first time in their history, which stretches back almost 70 years. They fitted in so well with the New Orleans way of things that you won’t notice. Supporting them in their stint in the Big Easy were stellar figures such as Allen Toussaint and the trio that made up their backing band, pianist David Torkanowsky, bassist Roland Guerin and Shannon Powell on drums. Free At Last is Gospel with a smokey lead vocal over the funky groove. Make A Better World has good horns throughout this Gospel inflected Soul/R&B. This was written by Earl King, one of New Orleans’ favourite sons and it is surprising that it is the horns and the laid back sax in particular, that are to the forefront rather than the guitar which King was so famous for. Mahalia Jackson’s How I Got Over is slow and soulful with a strong lead vocal. The harmonies are as you would expect, oh yes! You Got To Move is an uptempo version of the well known song. Across The Bridge has a New Orleans feel to it and You Better Mind is Gospel shouting par excellence.

Down By The Riverside is the classic song and they give it their own inimitable twist. It’s only piano and voice for If I Could Help Somebody but this Mahalia Jackson song is one of the most powerful tracks on offer. Uncloudy Day has the aid of The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and smacks of New Orleans. A Prayer is soulful and I’ve Got A Home is Gospel with a sound beat. The gravely vocal sets the whole thing off. They close with I’ll Fly Away on which a military snare leads into New Orleans jazz.

They have been about in various guises for nearly 70 years – that says it all.

http://www.proper-records.co.uk/

David Blue.

Crosby Loggins And The Light – We All Go Home (Provogue).

Eldest son of Grammy winning legend Kenny Loggins, Crosby Loggins and his band The Light release their debut album on Provogue Records. When your father’s house guests include Jackson Browne, Graham Nash and Michael McDonald then there is bound to be a little magic that rubs off on you. Crosby has captured some of that magic during co-production with Jesse Siebenburg, a multi-instrumentalist with his own famous father, Supertramp drummer, Bob Siebenberg. Good Enough showcases a whispery voice fronting melodic acoustic rock. Always Catching Up, written with his sister Bella, is very familiar sounding, sometimes the sign of a good song, and the inclusion of Paul Cartwright’s fiddle and Siebenberg on pedal steel gives a modern country feel. Rocks Into Sand is a country crossover and confirms his status as being very different to Provogue’s other artists. There’s a jazzy fiddle intro to Man In The Middle. This is very sophisticated and finally gives us a guitar break. Military drums from Jared Pope herald March On, America, political soft rock and very mechanical with a wicked electric violin solo from Paul Cartwright.

Written by Siebenberg, Here She Comes is a pleasant nu-country ballad that may remind you of Marshall Crenshaw and Wanna Be You is a very slick funky and soulful offering with vocals akin to those of Savage Garden. Radio Song is modern country and Angel Of Mercy is an impassioned country ballad that is surprisingly good for one from this genre. Loggins certainly has the type of voice for this. Couldn’t Save Me is another from the higher echelons of the genre but it doesn’t carry enough of an edge for me. The title track is one of the better songs on the album and this sultry, piano-led contribution builds up well and shows that he can construct a song brilliantly. It’s even more impressive when you find out that he wrote it when he was 18. Same Old Song (La La La) is old style folk/country much akin to James Taylor. He throws in a Celtic influence with the fiddle but the whole effect is spoiled by the inclusion of the La La La excerpt. Apart from this, it is a top song.

As I’ve already said, Crosby Loggins is very different to the rest of Provogue’s roster. Then again, variety is the spice of life.

http://www.crosbyloggins.com/
http://www.provoguerecords.com/

David Blue.

IAMX – The Alternative (No Carbon Records).

IAMX is the solo project of Sneaker Pimps front man Chris Corner and The Alternative is his second album. President highlights his excellent voice immediately. This is a big production song and could quite easily be from a stage musical. The eponymous title track is top class electronic pop that deserves chart success for him. Nightlife is darker and has a pounding bass line and that extra little bit of class. Lulled By Numbers shows how expressive a singer he can be and when backed by such evocative music it makes a winning combination – electronica of the highest class. His future may lie in musicals as I have stated above but that future may also lie in films if Songs Of Imaginary Beings is anything to go by. This is breathtaking and deserves to be heard by a wider audience. There is some interesting imagery used on The Negative Sex and he finally rocks it up when he reaches the chorus. Bring Me Back A Dog is all about wanting to be a dog in the next life – each to his own, I suppose. Anyway, the song is stuttering and magnificent! S.H.E. has a soaring vocal and the best you can do is think about him as a thinking man’s Mika. Spit It Out has a throbbing rhythm and the voice of an angel (fallen perhaps) which makes it an epic standout. His expressive skills shine out again on After Every Party I Die and his soaring vocal returns to pierce your soul on the epic This Will Make You Love Again. He finishes with a string version of Spit It Out. It is such an evocative piece of music that transfers so well onto strings and it shouldn’t really be too much of a surprise.

Given the right exposure IAMX might well be the big thing of 2008.

http://www.iamx.co.uk/
http://www.61seconds.de/

David Blue.

Napoleon IIIrd – In Debt To (Brainlove Records).

Leeds based Napoleon IIIrd opens with the experimental Introduction To A before leaping into This Is My Call To Arms with its soaring chorus. I detect Julian Cope influences here but then again, I may be completely looking in the wrong direction. Defibrillator has him in the stance of a modern day Paul Weller – that’s how good he can be. However, he can be totally off the wall too as The Conformist Takes It All proves. This is strange stuff with too many things going on at the same time. Beck and Divine Comedy fans will love Guys In Bands and there’s a bit of The Clangers at the end for all the youngsters! Anti-Patria is more conformist and, as a result, is one of the best songs on the album. Hit Schmooze For Me will work its way into your brain and you will be whistling it by the end. Everyone with associate themselves to the line ‘This is not my life, it’s just my day job’. Introduction To B is another experimental instrumental and completely unnecessary. Kate’s Song is acoustic, sparse and almost childlike and What We Have Here Is Ending is almost prophetic as this electronica offering is repetitive almost to the point of undervaluing the song. The Casual Terrorist Vs The International Board Of Wishing is an interesting title and enables him to continue evading a pigeonhole. The only comparison is one of very 80s electro-pop. My Superiority Complex has a Laurie Anderson (O Superman) beginning and some mockney vocals. He ends with One Song Before Bed To Three Four and he rocks things up a bit and goes all grungy.

An album that you will never be able to second guess and that is a talent in itself.

http://www.blogger.com/www.brainloverecords.com
www.myspace.com/boney3

David Blue.

Inward Eye – Shame (Columbia).

Big things are expected of this Winnipeg trio and on this form I believe that success will come sooner rather than later. It sounds a bit like School’s Out in the lead up to the chorus but it has a catch of its own that places it firmly in the centre of classic and punk rock. The lead singer, Dave, has a breathless vocal delivery that may well become the bands signature.

www.myspace.com/inwardeye

David Blue.

The Ghost Frequency – Never Before Have I Seen A Man Alive That Looks So Exactly Like A Skeleton (City Rockers).

And the award for this year’s longest title goes to…. This must be one of the wordiest titles ever but The Ghost Frequency’s energetic punk approach will soon have you forgetting their verbosity. On the evidence of this, there are no reasons as to why they can’t scale the metal/indie charts. The single is backed with another concise title – We Built These Walls And Watched You Howl As You Knocked Them Down. This is more hardcore than the main track and best left until they have secured their fan base.

www.myspace.com/theghostfrequency

David Blue

Simon Mayor Quintet – Mandolinquents (Acoustics Records).

This is the original line-up of the band that now call themselves The Mandolinquents and this is a re-release of their debut album from 1997. The album shows the prodigious talents that The Mandolinquents have and what they have built on over the last 10 years or so. I cannot fault the playing on Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance No 8; they are maestros of their instruments. Tchaikovsky’s Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy loses a bit of its impact perhaps but the dexterity on Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is amazing. It is worth noting that some of the band were wondering what to wear when performing the former – look out for concerts in your area! Plum Blossoms In The Snow is a traditional tune given the Mandolinquents treatment and more than meets the mark with Mayor on mandolin and Gerald Garcia on classical guitar. Mayor and friends play all kinds of music and Beat Out That Rhythm On A Drum from Carmen Jones is a venture into opera. Hilary James’ voice is not all that exceptional on this but we should not be too surprised as we are not talking about an operatic performance. However, the music is as infectious as the original. Down By The Sally Gardens is a traditional Irish folk tune. Played on guitar and mandola, it also has good harmony and the melody suits James’ voice far better. The addition of Chris Leslie on violin lends an air of authenticity.

Amongst this selection of classical and traditional tunes it is heartening to hear an original and Boston Ballyhoo is that original. Although short, it does allow Mayor, Richard Collins and Hilary James to display the full range of their talents. They jazz up the Irving Berlin oldie, Cheek To Cheek, although it does come out a bit Home Counties. There are flurries and runs aplenty on Russian Rag – good fun. It’s back to the classical mode for Ravel’s peaceful Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte. This, I feel, is a wrong choice as it doesn’t really transfer over to mandolin very well. They raid the Irving Berlin archives again for The Piccolino. The playing is still superb but I don’t really know what to make of this – I’m confused! The traditional American folk song He’s Gone Away resumes normal transmission and Apanhei Te is a tune played at breakneck speed. Written by Ernesto Nazareth, the King of Choro, which is a Brazilian street music, the speed is produced by the Cavaquinho, a type of small guitar that is designed to play at a rate of knots. This allows it to be transferred to mandolins very easily. They close with A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, a well known song that Simon Mayor plays solo on the mandola and treats it in a sympathetic manner.

http://www.acousticsrecords.co.uk/

David Blue.

Deering & Down – Break This Record (Diamond D Records).

This is Deering & Down’s third album and having based themselves in Tennessee since 2004, it has a flavour of that states most famous town, Memphis. They have amassed themselves a formidable band whose members include Rick Steff on keyboards (ex- Cat Power, George Thorogood, Gin Blossoms) and drummer Kurt Ruleman (ex-San The Sham). I was certainly taken aback by Canadian vocalist Lahna Deering’ squeaky tones on the opening track, Finally Found The One. It turns gritty rather than squeaky the further into the song we go. It has a rag tag homemade sound and doesn’t really reach its initial promise. Whatcha’ Thinkin’ Of has a certain punk feel to it. Her voice is better suited here but it does get a bit of getting used to. There’s a better base to this. Can’t Wait is mid paced rock and Richard Of Los Angeles is a rock ballad with the obligatory big chorus. Unfortunately, the stadium rock guitar solo from Rev Neil Down doesn’t quite work.

Sad Love is slow and plodding and Wonder Who’s Callin’ doesn’t offer anything too exciting either. Velvet On Stone is a slow country ballad and the singer has a Dolly Parton tone to her voce but don’t be fooled by the childlike quality, there is a lot of power in there. Sugar is a sleazy, grungy blues that works well and Cow Cow Girl is a fractured alt.country that is one of the best songs on the album. Deering turns in a Stevie Nicks style vocal on Oh So Good before giving us another slow song in the form of Abbey. Perhaps they have recorded too many slower songs for this album than is absolutely necessary. There is nothing wrong with this one but it is just not exceptional. Bessie’s Big Way is the closing track and this is unashamed country although I originally thought that it was going to be about Bessie Smith. It’s a guitar instrumental with enough small (deliberate) errors to give it that homemade feel.

This may be a slow burner and there are certainly enough plus marks to give hope for the future.

http://www.deeringanddown.com/

David Blue.

Kat Flint – Go Faster Stripes (Idioglossia Records).

I’ve just come across this single and although it was released a few weeks ago I feel it necessary to draw it to your attention. Scottish songstress Kat Flint has released Go Faster Stripes, a tale of life from the heart from her forthcoming album, Dirty Birds. It is an uncomplicated story of things that can, and do, go wrong and has a homemade feel. It is backed with Joseph, a look at the Nativity from Mary’s perspective that highlights Flint’s way of looking at life. The gentle acoustic sounds allow you to take in the meaning of the song. Consider my appetite whetted for the album.

www.myspace.com/katflint

David Blue.

Photograph: R. James Feaver

Deadstring Brothers, Miyagi & Culann @ King Tut’s, Glasgow 8th Feb 2008.

Three bands for the price of one certainly whetted my appetite although the quality of support acts is usually a hit or miss affair. I had no need to fret, for when young Scots band Culann took to the stage I knew that quality was not going to be an issue. They wowed the crowd with their blend of prog rock and certainly have the makings of a couple of epic songs in Bogus Conclusions and The Journey Starts. One thing though – I’m just getting my fillings back into place after the bass player rattled them out of my mouth! I’m looking forward to their debut album, whenever it gets released. Next up were Edinburgh’s Miyagi and they built on the good start provided by Culann. Miyagi are a different kettle of fish however and their funky Byrds style harmonies were the perfect foil for Culann’s heavier sounds. They showed their adaptability by swapping guitar and vocal duties amongst guitarist Euan Bruce (young Ted Danson look-alike), saxophonist Ally McNaught and bass player Alex ‘Rasta’ Ross. Drummer Andy Duncan and Claire Schiavone also chipped in with vocal harmonies and Duncan drums were the focal point of the performance.

Detroit based headliners, Deadstring Brothers, were eagerly anticipated by the knowledgeable Glasgow crowd and when they burst into life with Masha Marjieh in full voice, the crowd went wild. The set was peppered with songs from their critically acclaimed 2006 album Starving Winter Report and their latest release, Silver Mountain. Sharing the lead vocal was main man Kurt Marschke and his easy going interaction with the crowd went down well although he shouldn’t really have tempted fate by stating that he hadn’t had any whisky thrown at him yet! Fortunately, no-one took him up on that. Guitarist Spencer Cullum is, in my opinion, a star in the making and adds that touch of extra class to Marschke’s excellent alt.country songs. The rest of the band is Spencer’s brother Jeff, on bass, E. Travis Harrett on drums and keyboard wizard Pat Kenneally. If you have their albums then go out and see them live as the albums, excellent as they are, do not convey the power of their live performance. Highlights for me were Lights Go Out, Moonlight Only Knows and Meet Me Down At Heavy Load but it is unfair to pick out any songs for particular attention as there wasn’t a bad one in the whole set.

http://www.deadstringbrothers.com/

David Blue.

Doug Jay—Under The Radar (Crosscut Records).

It’s two years since Doug Jay’s last album, his debut for Crosscut, Jackpot and in the intervening period he has continued to hone the Blue Jays, his European touring band since 2000. The Washington DC singer and harmonica player has an impressive CV that includes gigging with Muddy Waters, BB King, Sunnyland Slim and Bruce Springsteen. The Blue Jays draw their music from many different sources and the eponymous opener is an R&B with Jay’s craggy vocal and accentuated guitar from Jimmy Reiter, touted as one of the finest young blues guitarist around these days. It’s Love is an upbeat rocker with the Reiter’s obligatory snappy guitar and great harp from Jay. Temptation harks back to the hey day of 60s Rock n Roll and has excellent harmony from Reiter. Show Me The Way To Love You stays in the R&R field albeit on the blues fringes. Without Love is slow and uninspiring and Don’t Want Your Love No More seems entrenched in the past. Losing Hand is a down and dirty blues and Lowell Fulson’s Love Grows Cold is an R&R/ blues crossover with the horn section adding welcome depth. Good guitar solo from Reiter and it really sways along.

Poor Me is a slow Chicago blues with top class playing, harp from Jay & piano from Christian Rannenburg and a good vocal too – he can turn his hand to this if he wants to. Up-tempo R&B Poor Me has good harmonies and the band seems to be warming to their task. It’s Easy When You Know How stays with R&B, the highlight of which is Jay’s screeching harp. What A Man Can Do is firmly in the style of Robert Cray – no bad thing, of course and Call Me Back To You is a barrelhouse piano and country blues, played at walking pace. There’s a little whistling from Reiter at the end but thankfully no yodelling. They round things off with Boom-A-Rang, an R&B instrumental guitar thingy. It’s well played but a bit dated methinks.

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

David Blue.

Last Train Home—Last Good Kiss (CoraZong Records).

For a band that started as a part time outfit 10 years ago, Washington DC band Last Train Home has come a long way. This is their fifth album and will surely be their breakthrough record. The albums title comes from a James Crumley novel and the eponymous title track is a very strong, bouncy Americana/Country opener. The pace slows for Flood but the added grit more than makes up for the lack of speed and I feel that this is a real songwriter’s song. The Country flecked Anywhere But Here follows with former Jayhawks keyboard player Jen Gunderman excelling on electric piano. Vocalist Eric Brace‘s velvet voice is best heard on Can’t Come Undone. This plods along and shows now tight a band they are. Go Now is slow and piano-led although the band say that they started it out as a Pogues style waltz. This version is lovely and poignant and I’m glad they changed their minds. A remembrance of Brace’s late father, May continues the sedate pace in its classic folk/country style – just drift away on his voice. You has contemporary funky sounds and a big, powerful chorus. It’s a love song, a rare thing on a Last Train Home album.

Just as I’ve said love songs are rare, here comes another. I’m Coming Home is classic Americana and it is so easy to listen to them. Kissing Booth is more of the same and they are becoming as familiar as an old pullover. I will go back to this again and again. Marking Time has another of their trademark powerful chorus’s and the last official track, The Color Blue, has a retro feel with Claire Small’s backing and Kevin Cordt’s trumpet. Three bonus tracks begin with Loves Farewell, a traditional roots song given the Last Train Home treatment. Bob Dylan and Levon Helm’s This Wheels On Fire is probably best remembered as the Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger version but Last Train Home’s Americana treatment works fantastically well. Alice Despard gets her chance on vocals and Steve Wedemeyer’s ballsy guitar rounds everything off. The last track is a radio edit of Last Good Kiss and this shorter version loses none of the impact of the opening track. Last Train Home deserves a hit.

http://www.corazong.com/
http://www.lasttrainhome.com/

David Blue.

Krista Detor – Cover Their Eyes (CoraZong Records).

Krista Detor’s second album, Mudshow, brought her to the attention of a wider audience and she hopes to build on that with her latest offering, Cover Their Eyes. She is a big fan of Leonard Cohen and although his influence can be heard, it is not to say that she has the same perceived gloominess surrounding her music. Pretty Horses Run is a gentle and bouncy opener that cements her distinctive style. Marlene In A Movie is much the same with the addition of a powerful chorus. Krista doesn’t do high speed songs and is much more at home with slow ballads in the vein of The World Is Water, a piano driven beauty with lovely understated harmony and cello from Anne Hurley. Go Ahead And Wait manages to sound both up and downbeat at the same time – a great skill to have. Robert Johnson Has Left Mississippi is not a blues as you may have expected and despite its rousing chorus, is slightly confusing. Only in the USA could songs such as the title track flourish. By that I mean that there is enough diversity to enable niche artists such as Krista Detor to grow as a songwriter. The song itself is quite simply stunning.

Her laconic delivery is exemplified on Anaemic Moon and if a song could describe her style, it would be this one. The torch song, Dinner With Chantel, is a perfect night time companion. Just snuggle up with a glass of red wine and chill. Icarus, like many others, allows the listener time to think. It is not an aural assault but rather more an intensive cerebral one. Waterline is about as pacy as she gets with Dave Weber’s acoustic guitar and Pete Wilhoit on drums adding impetus to this contemporary country offering. How Will I Know returns to the gentle pace that I more associate her with. Modern Americana is the best that I can use to describe her. Lay Him Down, a duet with Grammy award winner Carrie Newcomer, has an old style military feel, combined with old time country and is a fine finish to a highly professional album.

http://www.kristadetor.com/
http://www.corazong.com/

David Blue.

Bob Brozman – Post Industrial Blues (Ruf Records).

The title of the album gives an indication of what we are about to receive as Bob Brozman gives us his take on modern living. He plays an amazing array of instruments on the album and is forever experimenting with new and wonderful ones. He starts off fairly conservatively on National guitars for the Iraq protest Follow The Money, on which he makes them ring like bells -- a lively, high impact opener. Look At New Orleans is quite self explanatory. A personal view on what really happened when the levees burst. He is an extraordinary guitarist and gets the most from his instrument, and the 7 string banjo, with notes that you would not think possible at times. The banjo remains for the earthy Old Man’s Blues, which has echoes of the original Delta music even though it is played on the strangely titled Okinawan Sanshin. Airport Blues remains firmly in the Delta with Brozman’s wailing vocal making it acoustic blues of the highest order. Shafafa is more of a ragtime/music hall song played on Hawaiian guitar & dobro and whilst pleasant enough, it does not carry enough of an edge for me. Lonely Children has a loose, fluid feel but it covers a dark lyric on the plight of the homeless. This is played on a myriad of instruments including firsts for me in the shape of Chaturangui (a 22 string Indian guitar) and grass clippers! Let’s Get It Boy is a competent instrumental and introduces us to yet another new instrument, this time it’s a Gandharvi, a 14 string Indian slide guitar.

Three Families Blues is very dark and tells the tale of an immigrant, a soldier and an Iraqi – lyrically stunning and very thought provoking. Another instrumental, Strange Ukelele Blues gives you exactly what it says on the tin – a festival of strings from a Resophonic ukulele and 7 string banjo. The traditional tune, Green River Blues is full of sedate acoustic tones and Crooked Blues is not about felons but infirmities instead. However, Brozman goes on to compare physical crookedness with that of politicians. He plays the latter in an offbeat way but with strong acoustic slide. Rolling Through This World has a Spanish guitar style intro to a bass heavy dramatic acoustic offering. There are many other Spanish influences here. Slow Motion Blues is painfully slow but is a boon for lovers of slide guitar and there is another percussion experiment with Jim Norris using a straw bag of metal rattles. The self same slide guitar meets The Doors on People Are Strange. The novel use of percussion reaches a peak on this with ‘instruments’ such as broken toy piano, pots & pans, butter knife on table and a bamboo anklung being used. A strange combination I hear you say and he almost pulls it off. If he had added a little more menace to his ‘devil voice’ performance then he would have been there. A pared down How I Love That Woman gives a relaxed end to the album. This Texas blues instrumental with Brozman on Hawaiian guitar and bassist Stan Poplin will allow you to close your eyes and forget about the troubles of the post-industrial blues.

http://www.bobbrozman.com/
http://www.rufrecords.de/

David Blue.

Luther Allison – Underground (Ruf).

Lost recordings released for the first time – a statement that always makes the music world sit up and listen and in the case of Luther Allison it is well justified. However, the claim that this set is making its debut is far from clear. These songs were allegedly sitting in Luther’s home for approaching 50 years before his son, Bernard, discovered them. They were originally thought to have been recorded in 1958 (according to Bobby Rush) but recent findings show the sessions are most likely not to have been before 1967/68. Putting all of that aside, it is good to hear any early Luther Allison material. The opener, Hide Away, is a vibrant, raw R&B instrumental and is followed by the often recorded Don’t Start Me Talking, which shows the beginnings of his strong vocal and guitar work. Drivin’ Wheel features slide guitar and has a very contemporary sound, leading into Cut You Loose before he unleashes Easy Baby. This confirms that he was mature before his time and although the voice was still a little raw it isn’t much of a problem. You’re Gonna Miss Me is, quite simply, a highlight. Take My Love is a strong R&B boogie and BB King’s (I think) Rock Me Baby is a slow electric blues with excellent slide guitar. BB King songs need a strong vocal and Luther delivers with interest.

It’s only half an hour long, and may not be what it claims on the cover, but it is an important release nonetheless.

http://www.rufrecords.de/

David Blue.

Poppa Chubby – Deliveries After Dark (Dixiefrog).

Poppa Chubby, aka Ted Horowitz, is from the Bronx and still lives in New York state today. His brand of New York City Blues is formed from many musical influences but what you get is exciting, raw music. He is not new to the business and as far back as 1995 was releasing albums produced by the likes of the legendary Tom Dowd. Since then he has continued to release independent albums and produce many other New York artists. Deliveries After Dark is the follow up to the acclaimed 2006 release, Electric Chubbyland and he opens with Let The Music Set You Free, a heavy blues based rocker with layer upon layer of guitar. He is some guitarist and from the picture on the front cover you wouldn’t want to mess with him. Sally Likes To Run is uncomplicated rock with all of the associated posturing. The eponymous title track is high octane rock in an AC/DC vein and he plays The Theme From The Godfather as you will have never heard it before. This is a festival of guitar from a true heavyweight exponent. Grown Man Crying Blues proves that Poppa can cut it in the blues as well with a strong guitar performance. He continues to surprise as he delivers a country song in the form of You Can’t Stop Love. The excellent slide guitar lifts the song to levels that it probably doesn’t really deserve to reach.

He returns to the blues with a bang and a screaming guitar. The sentiment may not be too pretty on I’ll Piss On Your Grave but it does reinforce his no messing style. I hope that it is a sound effect at the end!! Man Of The Blues is an average chugging blues and Money Isn’t Everything is 80s style rock. The latter is pleasant enough, with seamless guitar, and I’m warming to the big guy. 2nd Avenue Shuffle is a guitar based instrumental and highlights his good range but overall is not too inspired. You Never Loved Me is a standard rock ‘toon’ but certainly in the higher strata of that genre. Woman In My Bed is pseudo reggae but it is his high standard of playing that shines through, no matter what style he is playing. Oh Rock N Roll You Heartless Bitch is an acoustic finish in a Meat Loaf country rock style. There are two bonus video tracks at the end that allow you to savour the full Poppa Chubby experience. I’ll leave you with words from the man – “All I can tell you is you need rock and roll in your soul and I am the man in control. Are you ready to rock?”.

http://www.dixiefrog.com/

David Blue.

Tim Hain – Bleggae (Note Records).

Tim Hain is described as a character, an eccentric and a public schoolboy of aristocratic descent. He is also two percent Jamaican and it said that he’d be arrested if he showed you which two percent. Bleggae is a fusion of blues and reggae, his two loves and two genres that fit because of their simplicity and their passion.

Little Willie John’s Need Your Love So Bad is a pleasant start. This has been covered by many, most famously by Fleetwood Mac and Reggae Lift The Blues has some reggae shouting and an impromptu Lively Up Yourself – good fun and has Prince on drums, no not that one! Fine Time Child shows that blues and reggae can mix well and features Earl Linton on harmonica. An Old Blues Man Never Dies has a John Lee Hooker style opening before it drifts into a slow reggae treatment. Hain’s lived in voice suits this well and to be honest, the song could fit into either genre. Somebody Turn On A Light is a highlight and like some of the others has been plundered from an earlier album. Pauline Henry makes a telling contribution on vocal. Welcome To Iraq is still as relevant today as it was when it was first released and is a wonderful critique on the intervention in Iraq.

If I Ever Get Home is another attack on the Yanks and displays Hain’s clever use of the English language. The Wind Cries Mary is another old one but a cover this time. Jimi Hendrix, of course, and when you do one of his you have to be confident of your guitar playing. Hain comes through with flying colours, showing that he can handle his guitar as well as his talent for making a song his own. He can do straight reggae as well and Everybody’s Talking To Themselves with chatting over a grinding reggae beat is testament to that. The biggest surprise about That’s What The Blues Is All About is the fact that there is no reggae. This is a funky blues in an Albert King style and he manages to fit in pieces of other songs such as Tony Joe White’s Steamy Windows. Feels So Nice is a straightforward blues with Hain turning is a voice of pure velvet. He finishes with One Man Went To Mojo, taken from the album of the same name. This is the perfect way to chill out so pour yourself a glass of whatever you fancy and settle down.

http://www.timhain.com/
http://www.note-music.co.uk/

David Blue.

Someone Say Something – Let The Games Begin EP (Own Label).

New Jersey pop punksters Someone Say Something are building a bit of a reputation on the US college scene and on the evidence of this EP it’s not hard to understand why. This 6 track sampler is full of raw energy and whilst they will have to smooth out some of the rough edges, they should not cut down on their obvious power and passion. The eponymous title track is very reminiscent of Blink 182 in their heyday and the chorus will get under your skin. They will have to improve lyrically but that will come with experience. They are musically solid and their youthful exuberance comes through in spades. Friday Night is even faster than the opener and is wonderful power pop. More power pop comes in the form of Less Than Lazy and this could easily be chart material. They throw in a live recording in the form of Follow and this power packed song has good potential. The acoustic based Anti-Self is average pop but can be improved – think McFly with an edge. They leave the best to last and Lose Control is the jewel in their crown. It is so full of energy and highlights a band on fire. They have a talent for writing a great chorus and that will take them a long way in the business. Given the right conditions and a bit of luck, Someone Say Something could well find themselves on the verge of something big.

www.myspace.com/someonesaysomething

David Blue.

Will Tang – Everything Changes (Zen Music).

Opening with the eponymous title track, Will Tang sets about realising the boast of the album’s title. There is certainly a big change from his last album, The Other Side although eight of the thirteen tracks on offer are from that very same album. The title track is acoustic rock that has him in the same class as Paulo Nutini and David Gray. Troubles Down, one of the new songs, is sedate country rock with well executed slide guitar. On My Way, another of the new tracks, stays in the acoustic vein and sees him straying away from the blues. This shows a level of sensitivity and vulnerability. He beefs it up a bit for The Other Side, which heralds the return of the electric guitar and, more importantly, the harmonica. This gritty, blues influenced rocker is a welcome addition. Red City Blues returns to an acoustic setting and is not a blues, as such, but rather a slinky rocker. Something Special is a new one and although it is upbeat, it is unmemorable.

Stories is more soft acoustic rock but Love Bites is a bit harder and his voice suits this. He gives the harp another airing on Time Of Day and the fuzzed vocal adds to the overall stormy effect. Drifting is not the blues classic as you may have expected but another acoustic rocker, this time much in the style of the aforementioned Mr Nutini. The last official track is Sun Down, which is a harmonica blues which is short, sweet and cuts the soul. There are two bonus tracks, remixes of Travellin’ Man (the normal mix of which is not on the album) and Love Bites. The former is a contemporary acoustic blues and the latter adds snappy drums from Geoff Holroyde to give another gritty modern blues.

They say that a change is as good as a rest so Will Tang must be completely rested for his next charge for widespread recognition.

http://www.willtang.co.uk/

David Blue.

Stoney Curtis Band – Raw And Real (Provogue Records).

The Stoney Curtis Band carries on the long tradition of blues/rock power trios and has been working the circuit for many years, honing their show entitled ‘Acid Blues Experience’. Stoney includes Kiss, Deep Purple, Robin Trower and Led Zeppelin amongst his influences but it was BB King who turned him onto the blues. The opener, That’s Right, is an electric blues with a shuffle. Stoney’s guitar will cut through your skin and rattle your bones. His voice sounds strained but that is just his style. Sometimes She Likes Me is a good old blues boogie with stunning guitar work and Girlfriend has a solid base from drummer Charlie Glover, built on by Curtis’ funky guitar. This grinder is the musical equivalent of a good boys night out. Behind The Sun is mellow and chilled out. However, I’m not convinced that the vocal is up to the job this time. It’s weaker, even with the elastic guitar and is a bit too long. American Lady is another strutting blues rock and Black Rose is a raunchy and heavy blues. It’s not the Thin Lizzy song but it is down to earth, honest music.

Blues Without You has a stunning guitar intro and turns into a standard slow blues that the masters would be proud of. Eli’s Blues is an electric 12 bar with gritty slide and the instrumental Coldwater Canyon is played at breakneck speed with scorching guitar. You’ll need some water from the canyon to cool down after this one! Rain Over Me is a bit wishy-washy. It’s the obligatory ballad but the anthemic chorus is worth the inclusion though. Love And Money is back to basics rock – air guitar at the ready. They close with Dirt and they keep up the power to the end. I can’t believe how much power Curtis generates.

http://www.provoguerecords.com/

David Blue.

The Barcodes – Live! In Session For The BBC (Note Records).

This is The Barcodes fourth album for the highly rated independent label, Note and their first live set. A selection of 10 covers and five originals opens with Statesboro Blues, a jazzy version of the Blind Willie McTell classic. Relaxed, but then I’m used to more frenetic versions such as those by Pat Travers and the like. Individually, Barcodes are great musicians and they transfer that to the band as a whole. Parchman Farm, from their earlier album Independently Blue, is a Mose Allison standard that was also done in the past by Blue Cheer. This is pacey and punchy. Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s Sweet Lovin’ Mama, also from Independently Blue, is a laid back blues with Nick Newall on sax and Bob Haddrell on piano/organ up front again. Dino Coccia shows his class on drums as they drift into a percussion and harmonica segment. The intro to Crazy Life, from Keep Your Distance, tells the story of Zoot Money and, believe me, this is zany stuff! The song itself is little more than lounge room jazz. Halfway To Nowhere, from their last album, With Friends Like These, is a mid-paced blues with top class organ work and strong sax. They have a very clean sound but sometimes they may find it better to dirty it up a little.

That’s Alright, another from Keep Your Distance, is a standard 12 bar blues and Comin’ Home Baby throws flute and organ to the fore. This jazz/rock offering is like Ian Anderson in a cardigan. Willie Dixon’s renowned 7th Son is played as a Professor Longhair tribute however, I prefer this song on guitar. Outskirts Of Town has Alan Glen’s slide guitar heralding a slightly sleazy blues and Back At The Chicken Shack/T-Bone Shuffle is lifted by Glen’s harp but is otherwise a little too lounge room for me. Sonny Boy Williamson’s Checkin’ On My Baby, from Independently Blue, is given a sultry, jazzy treatment and may not be everyone’s taste. One of the self-penned numbers, Alan Glen’s Be Cool, (also from the heavily plundered Independently Blue) is a piano led blues that will get you going. The second of a trio of originals is the Coccia/Haddrell written Undercover Lover. This is from With Friends Like These and the live version is more than comparable to the studio edition. The Snitch is another from With Friends Like These and is a bit of a jam as the band gets down to some grooves. They finish with a final cut from With Friends Like These, another archetypal Mose Allison song, I Don’t Worry About A Thing. Allison flitted between blues and jazz and that just about sums up The Barcodes too. This is what they are all about, good musicianship and great fun.

http://www.note-music.co.uk/

David Blue.

Paul Cox – Real World + Five Live (Note Records).

Paul Cox’s latest album, his third for highly acclaimed British label Note Records, confirms his status as one of the country’s leading blues/soul vocalists. Al Green’s Are You Lonely is a soulful R&B opener and Cox’s vocal is as good as ever. He has that ability to bend notes and the tonal quality is excellent. Hold On To Your Dreams is a ballad where the power comes through and shows that he is one of the best in the genre. Real World is sung in a Joe Cocker style. This is a classy, blue-eyed soul/rock crossover. Already Gone is a slow piano bar blues. He gives us highs and lows and goes from a lion to a lamb within a few bars. Paper Thin is a rocker and allows Cox to let rip. He shows that he has many facets to his voice on this John Hiatt song. Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry is another classy, tight soul/blues and is followed by the funky R&B of Heart Of Stone. You’re Born, You Live, You Die is a barroom blues with the welcome addition of slide guitar.

Walk In The Dark brings us more soulful tones from the big man. Derek Nash’s sax solo is worthy of a mention too. Cox’s passionate vocal comes through loud and clear on Sam Cooke’s Change Is Gonna Come, a soul/gospel effort. Allen Toussaint’s blues rocker, Brickyard Blues (Play Something Sweet), has Chris Farlow-esque tones. Rolling Back The Years has a big sax influence over the shuffling R&B. The live version of Change Is Gonna Come is a big, bold statement of his vocal talent. Three further live tracks, John Mayall’s Walking On Sunset and Van Morrison’s Nation Son and Caravan provide the full gamut of Cox’s style – jaunty party blues, adult rock with incisive guitar fills and blue-eyed soul. He finishes with BB King’s The Thrills Gone, a classic tune given a staccato guitar treatment by John Slaughter. Cox gives it his own personality and surely he has to have one of the best voices in the business.

http://www.note-music.co.uk/

David Blue.

Pat Travers – Stick With What You Know (Provogue).

Life In London is an outstanding track from his back catalogue and he has lost none of his power in the intervening period. This takes me back to my late teens when I would eagerly wait for each new Pat Travers album to come out. A high octane start which will not disappoint Travers’ fans. Crash And Burn is not a sign of what is to come and although his voice has seen a bit of action over the years there’s not much sign of it. He is still a top guitarist as well as he shows on a trademark wailing solo. I Don’t Care is a traditional rocker with a rebellious theme and the headbanging really starts by the time we get to Heat In The Street and Pat starts to warm to the task. Elijah is storming rock with soaring guitar and the Jimi Hendrix classic, Red House, gets a first play by Travers. This has been covered by many, including Albert King, and this is as good a version as any that I have heard. Travers is a very expressive guitarist and it is this that has kept him on top for so long. Another cover follows and this time it is Robert Johnson’s If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day. He rocks this up big time for a fantastic track. The third cover in a row is an Albert King song, Oh Pretty Woman, most famously covered by Gary Moore. How good would it be to have the two of them trade licks on this? Travers’ version is powerful, as you would expect. The strangely titled PT Nutz Aka Linus And Lucy gives the bass player a bit of the spotlight. It’s a rocking instrumental with manic drumming and shows his latest band to be a tight unit. Snortin’ Whiskey doesn’t conjure up anything other than hard rock but, in fact, it’s a blues, albeit on the hard rock side. Snortin’ whiskey and drinkin’ cocaine, don’t you just love the bad boys? Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) is an old favourite of mine and one of the songs that turned me on to the blues. He rocks up the intro but when he gets into the song, it is marvellous. There is a big audience participation on this one as he puts in an electric performance. This has dual guitars throughout and he comes back for two encores as the audience bays for more. The first of these is PT’s Solo Time. He gets all the pedals out for this one and he makes his guitar produce all kinds of sounds, including violin at one point. He has to be indulged, don’t you know! He closes with the third of the associated Albert King songs, Born Under A Bad Sign. He tries to keep on familiar tracks with this one but he can’t help himself and before long he’s off into one of his solos.

Not many are better and even less have lasted longer – young pretenders, you have just had your ass kicked.

http://www.provoguerecords.com/

David Blue.

Canned Heat—Christmas Album (Ruf Records).

Noddy Holder famously said “ It’s Christmasssssssssssss” and each year we get a raft of Christmas related albums and singles to listen to for a couple of weeks before discarding. Blues rock legends Canned Heat are no different to most bands and have released an album that spans history. There are two versions of the band here with three tracks from the original, and best loved, line-up. The bands first delve into Christmas records happened when Skip Taylor met Ross Bagdasarian of Chipmunks fame in 1968 and they decided that it would be a good idea to have The Chipmunks record with The Heat. The result was The Christmas Song and it is so surreal. It has its humorous moments as the Chipmunks butt in and I think that by not using this song, the advertising people have missed a great opportunity with the new Chipmunks movie coming out for the holiday period. However, they did not miss the chance to use Christmas Blues for a Heineken advert from 2003 to 2005. There are three versions of the song on offer, a standard 12 bar blues, a painfully slow, grungy alternative version with harmonica on form and Dr John on piano and a more upbeat bonus live version with Eric Clapton guesting on guitar and John Popper from Blues Traveller on harp and vocals. Other tracks include seasonal favourites Deck The Halls and Jungle Bells, both given the Canned Heat treatment. Nothing is sacred as the boys turn their attention to Boogie Boy (Little Drummer Boy) and the Christmas cheer is spread with lines such as ‘children need to guns when we got the boogie’. Another well known track is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and this is turned into a swinging instrumental but they also give us Santa Claus Is Back In Town, which is a rousing boogie. Add a classic Heat boogie on Christmas Boogie and a tearful barroom blues, I Won’t Be Home For Christmas, and you’ve just about covered all of the holiday emotions. Don’t Worry, Santa will soon be here.

http://www.rufrecords.de/

David Blue.