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The Cinelli Brothers—Almost Exactly—Self Release

The Cinelli Brothers won the Best Blues Band of the Year at the
UK Blues Awards following on from representing the UK at the
International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2023. As the band
who are based in London move on from strength to strength
“Almost Exactly” is their fourth album and was recorded in
Woodstock New York State no less.

The album opens with ‘Last Throw Of The Dice’, a cracker of a
blues buster with some ripping harmonica from Tom JJ. ‘Leave
It with You’ has a nice soulful feel and there is a nice gospel
organ vibe to ‘Dozen Roses’. ‘Ain’t Blue But I Sigh’ has a distinct
Santana feel about it whilst ‘Nobody’s Fool’ is a dark tale with some nice touches on trumpet
from Clive Anderson.
‘Prayer’ as you might expect from the title has a rootsy gospel feel and there is a distinct 60’s
soul vibe to ‘Lucky Star’. ‘Making It Through The Night’ meanders a little for me and comes
across more of a blues jam really. ‘Don’t Need No Favor’ is a minor blues with some nice guitar
touches before closing out the album with the funky ‘Fools Paradise’.

Clearly the Cinelli Brothers are a tight band with good instrumentation throughout. The lead
vocals are strong and benefit from the accompaniment of backing vocals and the touches of
keyboards and trumpet also enhance the songs. The mainstay of the band is their unit of drums,
bass, guitar and harmonica and they all work so well together.

The production on this album gives off a big wide sound and you can feel the energy from the
band. However, this production might not suit everyone as it can become quite exhausting
especially if you are listening on headphones! None the less another good album from a band
that is on top of their game.

Ged Wilson
Chris Smither—All About the Bones — Signature Sounds
ASIN : B0CVFKWC4C

It’s been ten years since Chris’s last album of new songs “Still on
the Levee” (2020’s “More from the Levee” was also recorded at
those sessions) and I was beginning to worry that we wouldn’t
get another album from the 79-year old. While his live
performances are usually solo he normally includes other
musicians on albums and on this record he has help from Chris
Cheek (sax), Zak Trojano (drums), BettySoo (vocals, accordion)
and multi-instrumentalist David Goodrich (who also produced).
The opening title track is classic Smither, built on his finger-
picked guitar with drums, sax, slide guitar and his mournful
vocal underpinned by BettySoo’s harmonies. ‘Digging in the Hole’ carries on in similar fashion
and I love the way he sings with the lyrics rolling out seemingly effortlessly, while ‘I Believe in
You’ is more poignant and again features prominent harmonies from BettySoo, as well as a
charming sax solo from Cheek.

‘If Not For the Devil’ is a solo melodic blues with just Chris and his guitar and foot stamps (or is
it drums?) and Eliza Gilkyson’s ‘Calm Before the Storm’ is a really lovely song with accordion
and again BettySoo’s wonderful harmonies – definitely one of the album’s highlights. And talking
about highlights ‘Down in Thibodaux’ is a prime example, a fantastic song about a picaresque
Cajun character – based on Chris’s childhood in bayou country but entirely fictional. Chris’s