Page 49 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2024

Alex Voysey—AV3—Self Release

Alex Voysey is a rising star on the UK blues scene and is starting
to make his mark on the UK blues live circuit. His latest album
release “AV3” as the name suggests features his power trio
format.

The album opens with the Jeff Beck rocker ‘Spanish Boots’
featuring some tasty guitar licks from Alex and there are yet
more tasty blues licks on the old blues classic ‘Texas Flood’. ‘Not
Over You’ has a good funky vibe that brought to mind Ainsley
Lister, really liked this one. ‘True Lies’ is a riff driven blues rocker very much in the style of its
writer; Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

‘Forbidden Rock ‘n’ Roll Jam’ does very much what it says on the tin with a hint of Status Quo
thrown in for good measure. Free’s ’Walk In My Shadow’ is a popular cover for blues bands but
this version didn’t quite work for me. ‘Alone’ is a slow deep soulful offering to close the album.

The first thing that jumps out at you with this album is Alex’s guitar virtuosity, he can sure play
of that I have no doubt. He uses dynamics well, for example, he can bring the volume right
down to a whisper which is a well known trait that I’ve seen countless blues guys do in Chicago
and Texas all to good effect, so glad to see Alex has this in his locker. There are hints too of
Bonamassa, SRV and Robben Ford in Alex’s playing, making for a good all round sound.

This trio format works really well with Ben Hands on bass and Paul Arthurs on drums both are
on it and as tight as the proverbial, a great foil for Alex’s guitar work. I am sure this trio will go
down a storm at blues festivals so well worth keeping an eye out to see them live.

One slight downside is Alex’s vocals which come across quite weak and lack definition which
is something he needs to work on. This album is a mix of blues covers and original blues rock
songs. The challenge ahead for Alex is how he is going to harness that great guitar work and
develop his own style and then take things a stage further with his song writing to become his
own man so to speak. Really looking forward to see what Alex does next.

Ged Wilson

Afton Wolfe—The Harvest—Grandiflora Records

Afton Wolfe is a veteran Nashville based songwriter and this
current offering “The Harvest” features all of the songs written
by his father in law; L. H. Halliburton.

The album opens with ‘Harvest’ which has a gentle Americana
vibe with melodic flute interspersed between the slightly gruff
vocals. ‘New Orleans Going Down’ opens with drums and bluesy
harmonica giving off a Tom Waits style of vibe. There is some
nice violin and a slight Gospel feel to ‘Lost Prayers’ whilst ‘Hello,
Mr. Wolf’ is a spoken word offering over some backing music that includes some really off
putting percussion.