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This is a thoughtful and listenable release—yes, there are contemporary touches but the choir
itself employs some fairly traditional techniques, and they are all very fine singers. If you have
ever wondered what today’s gospel music sounds like (and there’s even a reworking of a
Funkadelic number)… well, I’m assuming this gives a fairly accurate picture.
Norman Darwen

Mitch Grainger—Strong Woman—Independent (Digital
Single)

Australian born and living in the USA, singer and harp player
Mitch Grainger impresses with these two versions of his
tribute to strong women. The electric version establishes a

fine, strutting blues-rock groove with some fine organ playing
of Arlan Schierbaum particularly standing out (as does Mitch’s
measured harp break) whilst the acoustic version emphasises
the tinge of vintage Howling Wolf that is subtly suggested in

the plugged-in version. Suffice to say, both are well worth
listening to.

Norman Darwen

(www.mitchgrainger.com)
Laura Evans— State of Mind—Independent

With a big sounding boogie opener, young Welsh singer Laura

first came to wider attention in 2020, but on this, her debut
album, she consolidates her arrival on the UK blues scene and

also shows just why she’s been opening for Robert Jon & The
Wreck on their recent tour. Her voice can be tender or
tough—within the same song sometimes, as for example on

‘Solo’. She’s been compared more than once to Stevie Nicks—
lend an ear to ‘Fire With Fire’.

Long-time associate Josiah J. Manning produced the set and

plays all the instruments throughout. She boogies out on the opening ‘I’m Alright’, but the
album mixes blues, rock (‘State Of Mind’ and ‘Drag Me Back In’ are excellent examples of her
approach to blues-rock), soul - try ‘Fool’ - and Americana perfectly naturally. ‘Let You Down

Easy’ has something of a country approach, and ‘Mess Of Me’ is an impassioned ballad, before
‘Gone’ ups the blues-rock quotient again. So too does the brooding closer, ‘Free’, even if there
is a slight tinge of Americana to this one.

We’ll be hearing more of Laura, I’m sure. “State Of Mind” is a very impressive debut.
Norman Darwen

(www.thelauraevans.com)