So
fluid and seamless are Kelly Joe Phelps's acoustic, modern blues one
could imagine them being played at an Islington dinner party; coffee
table roots music for the chattering classes. But with God, and the
devil, in the detail with Phelps, a more illuminating label would be
the Bert Jansch of blues. Jansch was an early influence on Phelps and
in recent years he has returned to the sound of slide guitar with the
same dexterous grace Jansch bestows on his acoustic guitar. On this
third album for Rykodisc, Phelps is joined by Larry Taylor on string
bas and Billy Conway on drums and percussion. The result is argueably
his most realised work to date - and as soulful, taut and tender an
album as you're likely to hear all year. *****
(out of 5)
So
fluid and seamless are Kelly Joe Phelps's acoustic, modern blues one
could imagine them being played at an Islington dinner party; coffee
table roots music for the chattering classes. But with God, and the
devil, in the detail with Phelps, a more illuminating label would be
the Bert Jansch of blues. Jansch was an early influence on Phelps and
in recent years he has returned to the sound of slide guitar with the
same dexterous grace Jansch bestows on his acoustic guitar. On this
third album for Rykodisc, Phelps is joined by Larry Taylor on string
bas and Billy Conway on drums and percussion. The result is argueably
his most realised work to date - and as soulful, taut and tender an
album as you're likely to hear all year. *****
(out of 5)