Review: Ohio-based instrumental organ trio Parlor Greens, known for their blend of soul, funk and blues, return with a new 7" that follows their acclaimed debut from 2024. Side-1 features 'Driptorch', which is driven by crunchy drums from Tim Carman, funky guitar riffs by Jimmy James and Adam Scone's expressive Hammond organ. The track delivers a high-energy, groove-filled adventure. On Side-2 ,'200 Dollar Blues', introduces a fresh, mid-tempo instrumental. This blues shuffle highlights James' searing Stratocaster solos, complemented perfectly by Scone's soulful organ work. Their interplay exudes a raw, electrifying energy, while Carman's steady, dynamic drumming grounds the track, making this one for fans of deep soul and blues.
Review: This calls LP from The Big Three Trio is a lively showcase of pre-rock & roll rhythm and blues, swinging boogie-woogie and rich vocal harmonies. Led by Willie Dixon whose bass playing and songwriting would later shape Chicago blues, the trio delivers plenty of direct energy and storytelling charm. Not least with the title track, a playful take on a classic folk tale that highlights their wit and musicianship. With vibrant piano work and smooth guitar licks, the tight vocal arrangements are allowed to soar and help to capture the spirit of 1940s r&b. A great trip back in time.
After While (We Gonna Drink A Little Whiskey) (3:05)
You Sure Look Good To Me (2:44)
Big Three Boogie (2:35)
No More Sweet Potatoes (2:50)
My Love Will Never Die (2:47)
Ebony Rhapsody (3:00)
I Feel Like Steppin' Out (2:57)
Just Can't Let Her Be (2:46)
Lonesome (2:21)
Appetite Blues (2:37)
Evening (2:58)
I'll Be Right Some Day (2:22)
Blue Because Of You (2:29)
Violent Love (2:56)
Review: This is one of a couple of The Big Three Trio albums that are being reissued right now. The threesome in question was a pioneering blues group led by Willie Dixon whose influence shaped Chicago blues in the early years. I Feel Like Steppin' Out captures the trio's smooth harmonies and neat rhythms as well as being united by Dixon's signature bass playing. Blending jump blues, boogie-woogie and early r&b, this one has a lively, feel-good energy and tracks like the title cut are a fine example of the trio's polished yet raw sound which laid the foundation for modern blues and rock. Their sophisticated style and rich vocal harmonies paired with top songwriting would stand them apart today as much as they did back in the 50s.
Review: This 1977 album marked a sublime chapter in the trio's career, showing their unparalleled vocal harmonies and masterful musicianship. Often hailed as their most accessible album, it seamlessly blends folk-rock sensibilities with heartfelt lyricism. Reissued on pristine 180-gram vinyl, the warmth of this record shines through every groove, providing a listening experience as timeless as the music itself. Opening with 'Shadow Captain', the outfit sets the tone with rich vocal layers and Russ Kunkel's understated yet captivating percussion. Tracks like 'See The Changes' and 'Carried Away' exemplify their ability to create beauty through simplicity, with Nash's songwriting and Crosby's harmonies reaching extraordinary heights. The album's emotional centerpiece, 'Cathedral', is a profound and reflective masterpiece, echoing the introspective brilliance of their earlier work while standing out as one of Nash's crowning achievements. Songs like 'Anything At All' and 'Just A Song Before I Go' further underscore the trio's knack for blending authenticity with melodic perfection. Even with moments like 'Fair Game' and 'I Give You Give Blind' slightly veering toward experimentation, the album remains cohesive and compelling. From the poignant storytelling to the impeccable sound quality of this vinyl reissue it endures as an essential in the folk-rock canon.
Review: A multifaceted personality, 24-year-old breakout folk star Maya Delilah shares The Long Way Round on Decca Records, fresh off the back of a Spotify "One To Watch" award. "I get so influenced by different genres, people, places, and experiences that it's always felt hard for me to fit my music into a consistent sound or mood," the singer said in a statement. Forerun by the likes 'Squeeze' and 'Necklace', Delilah's vocals are breathy and her backing instrumentals smooth, tinged with the torrid strokes of Ayers-esque sunshine funk. Recorded between LA and London, the record flags up themes from cyclical relationships to predestination, with Delilah feeling that the record expresses a future nostalgia for someone she's never met before.
Review: Americana trio The Devil Makes Three bring us their first album since the 2018 release, Chains are Broken. And good things come to those who wait as the saying goes. The California natives have traded the more electrified sound of the previous album and returned to their stripped-down roots, whilst still pushing sonic boundaries with a lush atmospheric feel throughout. A big stand out is 'Hard Times', which is a banjo-flecked banger that feels like a nod to Woody Guthrie thanks to its empathy with people who are struggling and it takes aim at neoliberalism: "It's hard, hard, hard times / They'll charge you dollars / While they're paying you in dimes/ When they said it was going to trickle down / You know that they were lying." What a likeable bunch.
Review: Esteemed rock guitarist Andy Fairweather Low first came to prominence in 1967 with a cover version of 'Gin House Blues', Bessie Smith's 1928 original. He then went on to front the psychedelic rock band Amen Corner, marking a surprising shift in genre ambit. With the latter move rendering Low's early bluings relatively obscure, The Last Music Company gladly announce the early blues treads of this master musician's all-pervading influence on music, here with this new selected hits compilation. There are many collaborating musicians indebted to Low, and who yet owe him more than one drink: BB King, Van Morrison, Pete Townsend, Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea and Kate Bush, to name a few. A longtime sideman in Eric Clapton's band, hence the title, it not only highlights his mastery of blues guitar, but also his under-recognition as a hidden, arch-musician, pillaring the notoriety of others.
The Burden (I Turned Nothing Into Something) (feat Angel Bat Dawid) (3:11)
The Same Stars (feat Joe Minter & Open Mike Eagle) (4:46)
Kings In The Jungle, Slaves In The Field (4:45)
Strength Of A Song (with Alabaster DePlume) (2:57)
What's Going On? (with Isaac Brock) (3:24)
Fear (2:15)
I Looked Over My Shoulder (with Billy Woods) (2:54)
Did I Do Enough? (with Jesca Hoop) (5:43)
That's Not Art, That's Not Music (3:38)
Those Stars Are Still Shining (with Saul Williams) (0:56)
A Change Is Gonna Come (4:33)
Review: Tonky is a collection of found sounds and intimate storytelling reflecting his life of survival and invention. The album's title comes from a childhood nickname given to Holley when he lived near a honky tonk. Opening with the nine-minute 'Seeds,' the song builds from a sparse sound into a complex symphony, blending chants, keys, strings and Holley's raw voice. The track explores themes of hard labour, violence and the failure of home and Tonky is an album of abundance that shows Holley's mastery in combining personal narrative with expansive sound, all while featuring contributions from various talented artists.
The Same Stars (feat Joe Minter & Open Mike Eagle)
Kings In The Jungle, Slaves In The Field
Strength Of A Song (feat Alabaster De Plume)
What's Going On? (feat Isaac Brock)
Fear
I Looked Over My Shoulder (feat Billy Woods)
Did I Do Enough? (feat Jesca Hoop)
That's Not Art, That's Not Music
Those Stars Are Still Shining (feat Saul Williams)
A Change Is Gonna Come
Review: Lonnie Holley crafts music that is immersive and expansive, rich in both sound and storytelling and that's the case once more on this new long player. If finds Holley craft a symphony of sounds that stitch together effortlessly, each moment feeling like a discovery. The album's opening track, 'Seeds,' sets the tone with its nine-minute journey weaving sparse sounds, chants and Holley's powerful voice to explore themes of survival, pain and the failure of home while 'The Same Stars' (feat Joe Minter & Open Mike Eagle) brings more yearning and lyrical depth. Tonky is an album that invites you to listen closely and reflect deeply.
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