Page 43 - BiTS_10_OCTOBER_2022

REVIEWS

Babaux and the Peacemakers—Lucky 13—Contrabasso
Music

(www.facebook.com/contrabassomusic)

This release is the debut set from this outfit that brings to-
gether four musicians/ producers/ songwriters from Colora-

do. It is one of those “close enough to the blues” sets,
roots-rock if you prefer. Christian Basso, aka Babaux, is a sing-
er, songwriter (he has co-written with Eric Lindell) and ac-
claimed bass player who turned to the dobro during lockdown
and this is his instrument throughout. His backing group, The
Peacemakers, are a guitar/ bass/ drums trio.

Babaux has a whiskey-soaked, lived-in voice, well-suited to the songs he has written (all elev-
en numbers are originals), and his own playing is subtle and well-complemented by lead and
rhythm guitarist Eric Martinez and the rhythm section. The songs themselves frequently fall
into an Americana bag, there is some influence from Bob Dylan maybe (and The Band came to
mind more than once), but there is also some southern rock style — listen to the blues-rock of
‘Without The Medicine’ or the closing ‘Let The Rains Fall’ - a subtle 60s psychedelic blues fla-
vour on ‘Blame It On Me’, and a strong Mississippi blues flavour to ‘Early Grave’.

This is an interesting and very listenable album, I look forward to hearing more from these
guys…

Norman Darwen

Pronghorn—Welcome to Pronghorn Country—Lunaria
LUNA-0013

Back in the 70s, I used to love reading the label discographies
in magazines like “Blues Unlimited” – well, OK, just “Blues Un-
limited”, there weren’t too many others around. I always
found it interesting to see what other things mainly blues la-
bels had put out – such as the Chess Brothers releasing Jamai-
can ska records in the mid-60s.

Over the last couple of years, UK label Lunaria has established
itself as a stronghold of blues – mainly but not exclusively the
UK variety – but this latest release certainly doesn’t fit that category. It’s been called “cow-
punk” or maybe it’s some kind of punky country or manic Americana/ bluegrass, and ‘Dirty
Motel Blues’ is twisted rock and roll. If your taste runs to that, do check it out – there is also a
particularly tasty version of ‘Shady Grove’ and ‘The Cuckoo’ is indeed the venerable and once
well-known number, nicely performed in a rather more restrained manner; if not, well, here’s
hoping this will be useful for future blues label discographers!

Norman Darwen