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The album opens with the title track ‘Still’, which is a slow, sparse, affecting southern soul filled

ballad. Malaya’s powerful, yet sensitive rising vocal is well suited to the simmering B3. A softly
lyrical guitar and a stark piano give splendid support, while an anchoring bass is provided by guest
player Richard Cousins. ‘Why Is Peace So Hard’, is a thoughtful hymn-like stirring gospel piece, that
sees a blistering B3 ably support Malaya’s fiercely passionate vocals. On the melancholy ballad ‘I
Can’t Be Loved’—concerning increasing self-doubt—Sammie Ashworth brings a very sombre piano to
Malaya’s pain filled performance. ‘Settle Down Easy’ is an enjoyably slinky, late-night soul groover
with a wonderfully sensuous vocal from Malaya, the simmering B3 grandly underpinning the mood.

‘Down To The Bottom’ continues the smooth, smooching mood, as a cocooning B3 and sensitively
gurgling guitar, greatly add to the enticing atmosphere. ‘Down To The Bone’, pleasantly echoes the
funk filled seventies with a bubbling organ and a Curtis Mayfield styled grooving, bubbling guitar,
underpinning a raw, sensuous vocal from Malaya.

Greatly endorsed!

Brian Harman

Shaun Murphy—Flame Still Burns—CD Baby ASIN :
B08M8FNRCL

Shaun Murphy started her career as a backing singer with
amongst many others Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, Phil Collins and
Alice Cooper before getting her break as Little Feat's lead vocalist
after Lowell George died. This is her ninth record since going solo
in 2009 and we get off to a great start with a rocking reading of

Freddie King’s ‘Palace of the King’, followed up by another blues
classic ‘Sweet Little Angel’, then Shaun tackles Chris Smither’s
‘Love Me Like a Man’—as done by Bonnie Raitt—Shaun’s version is
a bit more rocked up with her two guitarists Tommy Stillwell and Kenne Cramer both taking solos.
‘It’s Not My Cross To Bear’ is a slow blues written by Gregg Allman with impassioned vocals from
Shaun, great guitars, lovely Hammond organ from Eric Robert and piano from Kevin McKendree.

The album carries on in a similar style with classy songs delivered with Shaun’s powerful vocals
and great playing from the band, who also include Tom DelRossi (drums) and John Marcus (bass).
There’s a lovely version of old boss Clapton’s ‘Old Love’, a rocking take on Junior Wells’ ‘Little by
Little’, a blistering version of Lorraine Ellison’s ‘Stay With Me Baby’ and Otis Rush’s ‘I Can’t Quit
You Baby’ taken at a slightly faster pace, as well as a funky reading of Frankie Miller’s ‘Ain’t Got No

Money’—Shaun is obviously a big Frankie fan. There are more interesting songs to finish—Denise
LaSalle’s ‘Man Sized Job’, another blues classic in Elmore James’, ‘Cry For Me Baby’ - done without
slide guitar, instead we get that on the closer a version of Charlie Rich’s ‘Don’t Put No Headstone
On My Grave’ - with nice piano from McKendree. I couldn’t pick a favourite track on this record,
they are all of the same standard—excellent—great singing from Shaun, wonderful playing from the
band, terrific songs and sympathetic production that just lets the music shine through.

Graham Harrison