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Blackbird & Crow Ailm Mig Music ASIN: B01GIUNKOI

Blackbird and Crow (Maighread Ni Ghrasta vocals and Stephen Doohan

guitars and keyboards) have been described as as a psychedelic, folk-blues
duo but that doesn’t quite describe them, they are more ethereal than
straight blues, a bit like This Mortal Coil, a bit like the love child of Enya
and Seasick Steve, very original and very Oirish. The first two tracks
'Harlot On Holy Hill' and 'The Witch That Could Not Be Burned' pair

atmospheric distorted electric slide guitar with spoken vocals in a broad
Donegal accent. ‘Princess Of The Ditch' (a cover of a song by Richie Healy)
and "Blackbird" are both more folky with beautiful melodic sang vocals,
and following songs continue with a folk sound that tells stories, while "A Pox On You" has a more electronic
vibe and is positively scary!

"Parting Rag" is a lighter song and "Sweet Surrender" is a lovely sad, soul ballad with mournful brass and
funky laid-back drums. "Mo Chuisle" is down-home Irish country blues - I've never heard anything like it -
beautiful and very moving and "Mór Ríoghain" is similar but more acoustic with a haunting vocal in Gaeilge.
"The Ways That I Can Make You Suffer" is a tongue-in-cheek dirge, with more powerful, wailing vocals from
Maighread. This is a really great record that just sounds so original, it has lots of variety and interesting lyrics

about women’s place in society, abuse and Catholic guilt, coupled with wonderful playing from Stephen and
superb production from Tommy McLaughlin (of Atlan) helped out by Brian Masterson (The Chieftains, Elvis
Costello).

Graham Harrison

Lazy Lester Yes Indeed! Tempo Records ASIN: B082YTZHBS

This is a live album recorded in 2003 featuring singer/harp
player/guitarist Lazy Lester backed by the French band Benoit Blue Boy
and the Tortilleurs, featuring Stan Noubard-Pacha on guitar with

Welshman Geraint Watkins on keyboards. I'm a sucker for the lazy, loping
sound of Baton Rouge blues and I've got to say that the band do a fine job
in recreating that relaxed Excello vibe. The sound is good and well-
balanced, with minimal audience noise but just enough to give
atmosphere. Lester plays some familiar songs from his repertoire - "I

Made up My Mind", "You Don't Have to Go" and "Patrol Wagon Blues",
some blues standards, Jimmy Reed's "What You Want Me to Do" and Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man", as well as the
C&W song "Your Cheatin' Heart" - probably the least successful cut. The band is great throughout, not just
keyboard supremo Mr. Watkins but also the rhythm section and Benoit Blue Boy who also plays harp behind
Lester.

Graham Harrison