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‘Nick’s Place’, is a walking paced narrated blues-ode to a notorious Juke Joint. The menacing
saxophone, harmonica and guitar add to the invitingly drawling vocal. The enthusiastically
bouncing soul infusion on the Rolling Stones influenced ‘Everything’ delivers an enjoyable tale,
of a possibly licentious lady.
‘Combination’ is a cool, Latin influenced guitar led piece, with Teresa James sharing a duet with
Mark, as they endeavour to find the key of love.
Sit back and enjoy, the relaxed, almost freewheeling country influenced acoustic guitar and
harmonica on ‘Life Is Good’.
The slightly swampy influenced ‘Voodoo’ possesses an enjoyably laidback harmonica feel and
an equally relaxed vocal.
Recommended!
Brian Harman
Reverend Freakchild—Songs Of Beauty For Ashes Of
Realization—Treated And Released Records TNR 017
This album is the Reverend’s seventeenth and it is a re-visitation
to nine of his favourite numbers, from his last twenty two years
of recording. He has a penchant for redefining his work and here
he does not disappoint. He takes lead vocals and plays a National
resolectric guitar. He also works with a multitude of musicians
across the nine numbers.
The opener ‘All I Got Is Now’ features a second layer of drums
and lap steel, which delivers a pleasantly hypnotic and floating
surreal feeling. ‘Dial It in (Beauty for Ashes Remix)’ is a gospel
infused motorway tale, which possesses a haunting mixture of reverb and gently pulsating organ.
‘All Across America’, is another motorway tale fuelled by punchy percussion, harmonica and
sliding guitar.
‘Hippy Bluesman Blues’ is a pleasantly shuffling blues guitar and organ, accompanied by dreamy
percussion and slide. ‘Amsterdam Blues’, has the Reverend solo, on vocals and acoustic guitar,
this, is a tale of self sufficiency delivered in a very pleasant Delta style.
‘Tears of Fire’, is a rolling blues rocker with low down snarling vocals and Chris Bergson
providing equally snarling guitar, underpinned by punchy percussion and harmonica.
On the distinctly dreamy, West Coast ‘Skyflower (Watermoon)’, the reverend has Sheryl Renee
providing evocative backing vocals.
‘Don’t Miss Nothing ‘Til It’s Gone’, is a splendid acoustic Delta blues from the reverend, with the
Reverend Shawn Amos, delivering an atmospherically spot on, harmonica accompaniment.
Blind Boy Fuller’s ‘Keep on Truckin’’, is a very enjoyable mid-paced and inviting, rolling blues.
Recommended!
Brian Harman