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The Bluesmasters Featuring Cassie Taylor—
Exulans DMD

This is the eighth album by The Bluesmasters and

on this occasion, Cassie Taylor takes lead vocals,
bass and banjo.

The Bluesmasters are: Kassidy Kent; bass,
Christian Teele; drums, Eric Moon; B3 and

accordion, Sally Van Meter; Lap steel guitar, Doug
Lyn; harmonica, Stella Ann; percussion.

Providing backing splendid backing vocals are
Kylee Ribble, Larea Edwards & Chrissy Grant. Tim Tucker produced the album

and supplies guitar and bass. The ten covers were recorded live at Exulans studios.

The opener is the staple Singers ‘Downward Road’, a rousing and striding Chicago

harmonica led stomper. Next up, Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’,
is soaked in a deeply reverential B3, paired with solid harmonica and accordion.

Throughout the album, Cassie’s deeply emotive, powerful vocals sweep, soar and
gently caress. Her performance is enticingly steeped in belief and feeling.

The slow burning ‘Sit Down Servant’, is enmeshed within a fiery distortion-fuelled
guitar part, whilst ‘Wade in the Water’ attractively races along, with sizzling, gospel

infused B3 and some fearsome guitar.

On the heartfelt ballad ‘You’re Gonna Make Me Cry’, Cassie fills the number with

seriously emotion-filled heft. The 1922 hymn ‘If I Could Hear My Mother Pray
Again’, is given an upbeat, fuzz filled pleading, racing-guitar feel.

A much more gentle pleasing and swaying rendition of the Staples Singers’ ‘If
You’re Ready’ nicely settles you down.

A prowling, downbeat harmonica leads on the slow burning, Staples’ ‘I Wonder
Why’. The melancholic tale of sorrow is still relevant today.

The classic Staples’ ‘Respect Yourself’, is a heady mixture of burning, swirling B3,
underpinned with insistent low level drum work.

Finally Aretha Franklin’s ‘Chain of Fools’, has a happier feel, with grooving
harmonica-led blues entwined with a funky B3.

Highly recommended!

Brian Harman.