Mita (label)
06 May 2013 (released)
21 May 2013
There is an awful lot to like about Paul Rose’s 12th studio album and very little to disregard. At heart he is a Blues guitarist and a very good one.
Even better, he has a taste for rawboned Blues with soul and no little element of pomp but he doesn’t wank with his guitar – he isn’t a widdler or a shredder although I don’t think he would find either style a stretch.
He has also surrounded himself with musicians that have huge respect in the industry and recorded this album in just 15 days from first meeting and rehearsals – you can hear the cooking as the band and Mr Rose gel and develop their relationship. There may be rough edges on some of the tracks but in a good way and the lack of overdubs and rerecordings leave the music as live as it was recorded.
He also does not ‘do’ vocals – he has some serious vocal talent here and they let him do the thing he is best at – play Blues with a touch of jazz and rock.
On tracks like ‘Let’s Straighten It Out’ his subtle playing evokes a dark place and real soul behind Sweet Pea Atkinson’s vocals and on ‘(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Wanna Be Right’ his playing is so sweet that you will be in tears by the end of the track – frankly, I could listen to him play all day!
He then proceeds to rip it up royally on ‘Ball & Chain’ (NOT the Janis ballad) or the funky ‘Just A Little Bit’ with some great fun and pizzazz.
The closer is ‘Stormy Monday’ – I checked my collection and I have twenty seven versions of this classic but he plays it as well as anyone I have ever heard do the number. Seriously, this is up there with Stevie Ray!
He was picked, from over 1000 entrants, as the best new guitariost in 1991 by none other than Rory Gallagher and this album suggests that he has lived up to that promise.
Outstanding.
