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Derek Holt and Richard Jones—Shadowman—Independent

Founder members of Climax Blues Band, Derek Holt and Richard
Jones reunite here to produce this album drawing on (as their
Bandcamp site puts it) “their common musical influences: The
Beatles, The Blues, Rhythm and Blues, [and] Soul”. And in that
simple phrase, the music is summed up.

The blues may lie in the rhythm and blues and soul part of the
phrase, but the root of the music is very much at the ‘pop’ end of
the spectrum. There is an airy drum and bass mix/feel to the
whole of the album.

All songs were composed by Derek & Richard except ‘I Gave All My Money Away’ which comes with
lyrics from Tim Sebastian and is my fave on the album with a nice funky feel and a mix reminding
me of the Meters.

The title track has the feel of a movie soundtrack (spaghetti anyone?). While ‘Waiting for Payday’
is a nicely done, wistful piece with a cracking horn part (a hook even) and a laid back guitar solo,
shame about the fade out.

All in all a nice effort but not one for blues aficionados despite their credentials.

Ian K. McKenzie

Prakash Slim—Country Blues From Nepal—DeVille Records

Dr Samuel Johnson, eighteenth century polymath reportedly once
said : "Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his
hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it
done at all." Boswell: Life of Johnson. That is sometimes seen as

a put down of women, but in it lies another truth—these things
have to start somewhere!

Blues—roots acoustic blues—played by a man from Nepal might be
something you might be surprised to find done at all but when it
is done as well as this, it is more than a surprise—it is jaw
droppingly stunning—done so much better than just ‘well’.

Ram Prakash Pokharel plays and sings the blues like he has a hellhound on his trail. This is not the
work of a revivalist, it is music made, written and performed by a dedicated bluesman who just
happens to have an unusual background. Music includes: ‘Bhariya Blues’ (Prakash Slim)

‘Blues Raga’ (Prakash Slim), ‘Corona Blues’ (Prakash Slim), ‘Crossroad Blues’ (Robert Johnson),
‘Garib Keto’ (Prakash Slim), ‘Jitterbug Swing’ (Bukka White), ‘Living For The Memory’ (Prakash
Slim), ‘Me And The Devil Blues’ (Robert Johnson), ‘Moon Going Down’ (Charley Patton), ‘Police
Dog Blues’ (Blind Blake), ‘Poor Boy’ (Prakash Slim), ‘Villager's Blues’ (Prakash Slim) and ‘You
Gotta Move’ (Fred McDowell). Enough of his own music to know he is not a copyist. Enough to
know this man has the blues in his soul and in his fingers. More please!

Ian K. McKenzie