Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

24 May, 2011

The Border Surrender-Lean Season EP

Filed under: country,gospel,Recorded Reviews,rock — willmunn @ 17:55

Regular readers of the hallowed pages of Rhythm & Booze will have seen a few months back a gushing review of London based four-piece The Border Surrender’s debut single Oh Mary, a glorious mean and moody murder ballad that had me singing the band’s praises to anyone who would listen, well now the band are back with a brand new four-track EP and to say I was a little excited to hear their latest wares would be something of an understatement.

I have to admit my expectations for Lean Season were sky high after Oh Mary became such a personal favourite, but I’m happy to report the band have somehow managed to equal and exceed my expectations with a stunning quartet of songs that again offer that rootsy Americana sound but also hint at blues, gospel and widescreen rock of biblical proportions.

The EP opens with If You Pass Me By, a glorious statement of intent that begins with hushed vocals and chiming guitars before gradually developing into a muscular experimental country rock number complete with a glorious upbeat melody, spellbinding vocals, gorgeous harmonies, tapped beats, whirling keyboard and crashing riffs to create a sound that nods to that of Arcade Fire or personal favourites Broken Records.

From there the band move onto Call To Prayer, a rallying bluesy mantra that opens with a stabbing piano riff before the rest of the band join the mix to deliver a stunning stomping slice of gothic blues complete with jagged guitar and almost primal beats. Mariner’s Wife offers up something of a curveball, as the band bash out a wonderful harmony led folk lament that should find favour with fans of both The Band and Mumford & Sons.

The band close the EP with perhaps my favourite track (though that has changed a number of times already), What Happened At The Estuary, a stunning wistful slice of Americana noir that’s similar in vein to the aforementioned Oh Mary single, it’s a dark brooding tale, complete with sinister crooned vocals, atmospheric organ and galloping rhythms that once again remind me of Christopher Rees at his poetic best.

Lean Season has once again shown The Border Surrender to be one of the most compelling and contagious bands around, each of the four tracks on offer captivates the listener and once more the band leave you baying for more. 

The Border Surrender offer up a unique widescreen sound that has to be heard to be believed, stunning, stirring stuff that deserves to be heard by one and all.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.myspacve.com/thebordersurrender

Blind Boys Of Alabama-Take The High Road

Filed under: blues,country,gospel,Recorded Reviews — willmunn @ 11:32

A few years back I picked up a copy of There Will Be A Light by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys Of Alabama, the combination of gospel and blues soon became a firm favourite of mine, the uplifting sounds, tight grooves and gorgeous spiritual songs really struck a chord and reaffirmed how powerful and mood enhancing music can be.

From these humble beginnings I found myself dipping into gospel inspired music via the likes of Howe Gelb and Spiritualized (both of whom have realised collaborations with gospel artists in the past) among others, every time I heard these evocative combinations I found myself dumbstruck with awe had how effecting music can be.

And so when the latest release, Take The High Road, of seventy year veterans and multi award winning Blind Boys Of Alabama drop through my door I could hardly contain my excitement.

Take The High Road is something of a first for the Blind Boys, the renowned gospel group decided they wanted to fuse together their already potent sound to that of traditional Nashville Country, the group set about courting big name country producer Jamey Johnson for the project and he brought a number of country greats and new names along with him for the ride.

Now I’ve listened to this album over and over again since it landed here and after my initial wonderment I felt concerned about how I could convey how special this release truly is. I’m not really sure that any words can do an album like this true justice, it’s simply stunning from start to finish, each and every track is a beautiful ride, whether it’s an upbeat funky spiritual affair such as Jesus, Hold My Hand or an exploration into mortality in the shape of incredible The Last Mile Of The Way.

The albums opens with The Oak Ridge Boys assisted title track, setting the mood brilliantly for the twanging gospel ahead, the weathered vocals of the Blind Boys blend effortlessly over a backdrop of piano and country guitars to create a stunning statement of intent. From here the band move onto the aforementioned funk of Jesus, Hold My Hand, a bass driven ode featuring a wonderful gravelly lead vocal that will melt the most cynical of hearts.

From here on in we’re taken of a rollercoaster of emotion from the old time country of Have Thine Own Way Lord to legendary collaborations with the likes of Vince Gill (Can You Give Me A Drink?) and Willie Nelson (Family Bible) via the sensational soulful hammond organ assisted country of I Was A Burden featuring the glorious lead vocals of Lee Ann Womack.

It’s near impossible to pick individual highlights as every subsequent spin brings a new favourite to the fore from the bluesy Jesus Built A Bridge To Heaven to hushed tones of Lead Me Home, there’s not a wasted minute on here, like I said I feel I’m really doing an injustice trying to break this album down, Take The High Road is an album that deserves to be devoured as a whole.

Blind Boys Of Alabama maybe veterans in the world of music but they’re still creating timeless music that’s simply oozing with passion and class. When it comes to music from the heart no one comes near the spellbinding sound of the Blind Boys Of Alabama.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.blindboys.com

12 April, 2011

Chris Barber-Memories Of My Trip

Filed under: blues,gospel,jazz — Tags: b, chris barber — willmunn @ 12:26

If you’re into jazz, blues or even gospel the chances are you’ve heard the stunning sound of Chris Barber and his band, however you may not know it. Chris Barber in his lengthy (60 years) career has performed with just everybody in the blues and jazz scene, from Clapton to Jools Holland via Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Lonnie Dnnegan, Rory Gallagher and Brownie McGhee to name but a few, adding his unique trombone blowing and bass guitar to a variety of releases since his first outing way back in 1949.

Memories Of My Trip is a two disc anthology featuring some of his most memorable collaborations along with a number of his own choice releases. Just reading the expressive and extensive inlay that accompanies this release, whets the appetite for this stunning compilation of best in blues, jazz and gospel as Chris explains the cuts on offer.
The collection opens with the title track, Memories Of my Trip by the aforementioned Brownie McGhee and it’s a wonderful introduction to the evocative sounds of the Chris Barber band as they provide the backing to the fantastic vocal stylings and blues guitar of Brownie. From there on in we’re taking on a stunning trip through the blues, taking in the likes of a rowdy live version of Kansas City by Muddy Waters, Can’t Be Satisfied by Rory Gallagher and the fantastic skiffle blues of Diggin’ My Potatoes by The Chris Barber Band featuring king of skiffle Lonnie Donegan before the late great (and underrated) Jeff Healy slows it down for a beautiful jazzy blues rendition of Goin’ Up The River that has to be heard to be believed. 
The next trio of tracks feature one the greatest voices of all time, in the form of Van Morrison and as you can imagine the likes of How Long Blues, Goin’ Home and the marching Oh Didn’t He Ramble are simply incredible jazz blues (and in the latter tracks case funk) standards performed by a killer band topped with the added knockout punch of the vocals of a top form Van The Man. If those stunning cuts weren’t enough the first disc also features the wonderful horns and vocals duet of Lonesome Road featuring the soulful tones of Ottilie Paterson, the country tinged jazz gospel of I’ll Be Rested with Paul Jones and the uplifting and spiritual, Precious Lord, Take My Hand with Andy Fairweather Low.
The second CD is more of a  traditional jazz album, featuring a number of lovely mellow instrumentals, but it still features a number of truly inspired collaborations that should find favour with jazz lovers the world over. There’s another stunning Ottilie Paterson track in the shape of a St Louis Blues/Missouri Special/St Louis Blues medley, a couple of tracks featuring the boogie woogie piano brilliance of Jools Holland, a couple of numbers with the passionate guitar and jazzy country vocals of Mark Knopfler (especially on the ‘Til The Next Time I’m In Town) and a breathtaking swinging rendition of Georgia On Mind featuring the vocals and trumpet of one Trummy Young to mention just but a few of the glorious tracks on here.
So if you know the musical of Chris Barber I’m sure you’ll find this overview of the magical music he’s been involved with a must have, if however, you’re something of a novice or newcomer to all things jazz and blues you could use this collection as something as an education. Memories Of my Trip is a delightful trip from start to finish 
 
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

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