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ANOUSCHKA: My Kind Of Heartbreak CD
You know you're in for a treat when the album starts with a series of jangly country-styled chording and rhythms, as you expect that typical American female country-sounding vocal to come through, only to hear a surprisingly European sounding swirl of a female vocal that immediately makes you sit up and take notice. The song itself, "Rainy Night In Chelsea", is fun, played well and, while not the epitome of songwriting, has a real air of sixties pop - meets- '90's country, to it. "Venice Beach" proves that this ain't going to be yer normal country-blues album as this semi-sung vocal introduces a slow swing of a track that possesses more jazz than blues, the arrangements for piano, guitars and undulating rhythm section, making its mark as that husky, sexy and warm emotive vocal makes its presence felt with a biting sea of lyrical splendour that improves with every play and makes more sense the more you hear it,, out of the ordinary yet still so familiar. "Good Girl Gone Wild" is essentially blues, but with a swing that gives it more of a bar-room affair, as the song drives merily forward, the vocal this time soaring to good heights while still retainingthat sexual passion which is a trademark of her vocal performances on this album. With all sorts of band-played styles from Beverly Craven-esque balladry to strongly swaying blues, this is an album that you'd call "tasty" rather than anything particularly powwerful, yet it has a strength that underpins its quite superb playing and song-writing, the vocal being different and highly engaging, still country-sounding but with a sense of originality which makes it so special.
TOM DOUGHTY: Running Free CD
You might think - as I did - that an album from a guy just playing lap slide guitar and singing, might be OK for the first few songs, but then your attention would start to wander and you'd crave something with more to it. Well, Mr Doughty has proved us all wrong, by producing an album of songs and instrumentals that are so addictive, they should have a governement health warning slapped on them. Some of the songs are a little Ry Cooder-ish, some of the guitar work a liitle on the sedate side of Leo Kottke, but all of it is absolutely fantastic. From slow to....well, slower.... this is an album to treasure. Played with huge emotion, sung with passion, each track succeed by virtue of the atmosphere and mood it creates. It's a bit like a slow train journey through a beautifully scenic countryside where you are moving on but still able to take in all the wonders that are there in front of you, as you become lost in what you are witnessing. The guitar work here is the watchword in expressive, so much emotion in a series of slowly played chords that you could almos cry with joy, while the few songs give the album the variance it requires to make it succeed. It's not got a wasted second on it, and it's a really joyous emotive ride through pure bliss.
JINDER: I'm Alive CD
A mainly solo, but also band-played, electro-acoustic country album with blues icing, this is a positively gorgeous slice of Americana that's got quality written all over it. The overriding key to this album's success is that warm, rich-sounding yet at the same time almost Loudon Wainwright (in a slightly higher key) styled vocal which pervades every part of this album to perfection. This guy could sing you the London telephone directory as a night-time goodbye and make it sound like a love song. He's got one of those vocals that just pours emotion from every note and yet keeps you hooked in a good-feeling web of songwriting that is simply hypnotic from start to finish. His guitar work is equally expressive, while the more uptempo band-played numbers, provide that extra sea of strength that the album requires to make it work as a complete entity. Essentially, it's country, but even in that overcrowded market, this is something special, and that's because this guy can write stunning songs. Each track on here, from the most incredibly gorgeous love song that is "Train In Your Voice" to the driving train-ride country-rock of "Travellin' Song", is a thing of maximum joy and enjoyment, and as a series of 12 songs goes, this is just superb.
AYNSLEY LISTER: Upside Down CD
It's often good enough to hear electric blues performed with that spark and energy that really makes it come alive. When that vitality is injected with an incredibly emotional passion, things are really reaching the top of the tree. Yet, when all of that is centred around songs that are absolute winners, then you must have one of THE blues-rock albums of the modern era - and that's exactly what is here, and what this album is. The album immediately lights up you rlife with an eruption of controlled power which immediately lets you know you're infor something pecial as the guitar fires up, the rhythm section roars and sound crisp and strong, while the vocals are just perfect, an Americana mix of bluesy and country that sound so good. The second track, "Getaway" is simply spectacular, with a memorable hook, sterling guitar work, great arrangements and harmonies to die for, on a driving slice of country-rock blues that is just stunning. "Always Tomorrow" is a gorgeous blues ballad that relies on its electric minimalism for its undoubted emotional impact for the first minute or two, before firing up into this awesome tower of soaring vocals, high-flying deeply riffing guitar and deliberately crunchy rhythmsection as it all takes off in a blaze of anthemic brilliance, before dropping back to earth then soaring even higher, the song just shining out at every point, positively taking your breath away and by the time the guitar solo appears, you're completely wrapped up in its amazing spell. "Ice I'm Upon" is another anthem, again mixing a country rock with blues-rock and coming out winning in every way as just a great song, perfectly performed. Thgroughout the album, it's this mix of great country-related songwriting allied to the most sizzling blues-related rock arrangements that make this album something that should be the required listening of everyone who wants to hear stunning four minute songs that stand up to repeat playing from now till doomsday as well as being 100% enjoyable, each and every time you hear them.
HANS THESSINK: Slow Train CD
One man, his voice and his acoustic guitar - occasionally joined by assorted friends on drums, bass, keys and backing vocals - all of which makes for an album of greater variation than you might expect. However, one thing remains unmistakeable and that is the myriad influences that go to make up this album, of which the overriding one for me was "Bop Til You Drop"/"Slide Area"-era Ry Cooder, of which this album oozes that old swinging blues-meets-gospel feel so prevalent in that period of Cooder's history. With a voice that could almost do a Ry Cooder tribute act, the man in question strolls and glides through a quality set of songs that flow and drive with emotion and conviction. With the blues aided and abetted by touches of African at one end and bluegrass at the other, this is an album where its variation is its strength and its passion is its consistency. Enjoyable to a tee, this is an exemplary and good-time feeling album.
UNDERGROUND BALLROOM: Contradictions CD
Astrong and driving set of 7 tracks that go to illustrate good blues rooted in the rock of Cream and travelling in the style of Stevie Ray, yet with less guitar exploitation and more emphasis on the songs. That said, the album features a fair share of electrifying guitar work as the band twist and turn thorugh a variety of largely mid-paced songs. The vocals are a tad taut, but overall, work a treat when the guy gest seriously involved. The songs themselves don't immeditely impinge on your brain but, given a few spins (as you should, because it is a good and consistent album), they start to get inside you. With solid guitar, organ, bass and drums work, plus the emotive angst-ridden almost early Rory Gallagher style vocal, this is an album you will play more and more as time goes by, and for that, it gets a respectable recommendation.
more to follow soon...................