Reviews roundup – Janiva Magness vs. Sarah McQuaid vs. Hollowstar vs. Gus Spenos vs. Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip
JANIVA MAGNESS
Love Is An Army
Blue Elan
I took a long, long time but Janiva Magness finally got a Grammy nomination a couple of years back, which when you consider the musical travesties that had trophies on the mantelpiece was quite shocking. But it helped raise her profile a wee bit which is a good thing and now she’s reeled in some famous friends to help out on her latest blues meets soul offering.
It’s another refined and enjoyable set which sees her continuing to inhabit a similar field as Bonnie Raitt on a album of new material, most of which has been co-written by producer and guitarist Dave Darling. And, no, I’m not being fresh. That’s his name. Add in a great core band and guests of the calibre of Charlie Musselwhite, Cedric Burnside, Delbert McLinton and even Rusty Young from Poco who pops in to play pedal steel on album highlight ‘On And On’.
It’s her fourteenth album and although it rarely moves out of second gear, it’s confident, well crafted and full of really good songs. Take ‘Hammer’, the countrified ‘Down Below’ or the deep blues of ‘Home’ for a spin, and you’ll wonder what took you so long. But if you’re late to the party, look on the bright side. That’s a bakers dozen of albums for you to seek out. Highly recommended.
SARAH McQUAID
If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous
Shovel And A Spade Records
Album number five for the Madrid-born, Chicago-raised, Cornwall-based singer/songwriter sees her working with seventies legend Michael Chapman, probably best known for his Harvest/Deram albums early in that decade. But it remains very much a Sarah McQuaid album.
It’s quite annoying that there is so much music nowadays as I’ve someone managed to miss her earlier work. Which is a shame for me because she is a really good songwriter and a great singer. It’s rare nowadays to hear someone actually inhabiting a song rather than just singing it, but this is one of those times. There are a lot of songs about and dying here which my shrink would probably tell me to steer well clear of but the way my mind works it’s impossible not to be drawn into the likes of ‘Break Me Down’ which seems to be a song about a body decaying in the grave. I certainly hope so or I need more help than I thought.
There’s also a version of the medieval chant ‘Dies Irae’ and it’s definitely the best version of a thirteenth century hymn I’ve heard this year! The instrumental tracks don’t detract from the record, but let you gather your thoughts for the next round. It’s a gem of a record, rooted in folk but standing on its own, and one that deserves to be widely heard. So get it sorted. Now.
HOLLOWSTAR
All I Gotta Say
independent
To Cambridge and a new single from up and comers Hollowstar.
They bunged out an EP last year which went down well and this new song sees them building on their classic rock meets pop-grunge sound to good effect.
It does exactly what you want from a rock single. A deceptively mellow intro, a strong hook, a decent riff and a chorus you can join in on. Singer Joe Bonson has a better voice than most touting their trade these days and the boys in the band know how to rock. A good one.
GUS SPENOS
It’s Lovin’ I Guarantee
independent
A couple of years ago I was introduced to “If You Were Gold Baby” by Gus Spenos. I would have enjoyed his modern take on jump blues if it hadn’t been for the fact that a neurologist who plays saxophone in a jump blues band on the side. I mean that’s taking the piss.
But he’s back and as much as I wanted to throw it in the bin in a fit of jealous pique I popped it in anyway. And, damn it, if he hasn’t gone and made another enjoyable record. Git.
It’s mainly covers with a handful of originals along for the ride, although you’d be hard pushed to work out which is which so well does he inhabit the sound of forties and fifties jump blues. For sure, he’s not the best singer in the world, but the vocals are subsidiary to the powerful sound of a great jump blues outfit in full flow. There’s trombones and trumpets to go with his own sax sound, some rich Hammond organ and a thumping double bass driving things along. Add in some choice tunes like the Eddie Boyd penned ‘Hush Baby Don’t You Cry’ and ‘Have Mercy Baby’ from Titus Turner and it really is the fine sound of a Saturday night fish fry brought bang up to date.
Fans of Louis Jordan, Tiny Bradshaw and Roy Milton should be snapping on their zoot and rushing out to grab this.
MICKE BJORKLOF & Blue Strip
Twentyfive Live at Baltica Blues
HokaHey Records
Just to show how varied the world of blues is, here comes the Finnish Blues Award winning blues-rock group Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip.
As the name suggests they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary with a double live album. And what they do is blues rock. They do it well, mind, and the 1200 strong crowd would have had a fine time the night this was recorded. The last time I crossed their path was when “Ain’t Bad Yet” came out a couple of years back and it was a fine record, as they mixed up Chicago blues and early ZZ Top to great effect. And in a live environment it makes a lot of sense. Granted it’s a lot more rough and ready than they are in the studio but that’s kind of the point.
it’s mainly original material which rocks hard but when they’ve got the slide guitar of Lefty Leyeppanen lifting everything it appears on, it roots things firmly in the world of the blues Across 21 tracks there are plenty of highlights with ‘Last Train To Memphis’, ‘Woogie Or Die’ and their take on the always welcome ‘Honey Hush’ particular favourites round my way. As a celebration of their silver anniversary it does exactly what is set out to do. Well done, fellas!
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St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
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The Rocker 