Ruf (label)
03 August 2009 (released)
31 August 2009
As Jack Bruce has got older his voice has grown thinner and 'reedier’ but somehow it has become even more distinctive than it was in the days of Cream. Similarly Robin Trowers guitar playing has lost a lot of the Hendrix-like bloom and taken on a deeper and Bluesier tone than it had when he first emerged from Procul Harum and went solo. These two are now the elder-statesmen of the Blues scene in Britain and they have developed into an awesome live animal as this album shows.
When the album was released last year it was notable for the density and musicality of the songs, the dark images that they produced and the power that the three piece band can deliver and live the darkness is more intense, the power is even greater and the music is presented with real ease and comfort but never seems to stray into the comfort zone that reduces the intensity of the music.
Bruce’s basslines are incredible; fluid and rhythmic with more music than the average guitarist. Trower plays guitar with passion and is one of those few guitarists who are genuinely comfortable playing little riffs to fill the music as well as soloes and power chords – when Bruce is singing his guitar lines are an essential counterpoint but when he is up front you find yourself drawn deeper and deeper into his playing with a mesmeric quality that is shocking when it ends. When Bruce says 'How 'bout that then' at the end of 'Just Another Day’ he sounds as impressed by their groove as the listener should.
All the numbers from the album are given the treatment as well as 'Sunshine Of Your Love’ and 'White Room’ and the closer 'Politician’ but the numbers from 'Seven Moons’ sit up as well as the Cream numbers do and every song has its strengths and merits.
The brooding tones of 'Distant Places Of The Heart’ are magnificent and Bruce’s vocal is perfectly suited to Trower’s guitar meanderings and the boogie of 'Perfect Place’ will get your leg pumping but the strains of 'Bad Case Of Celebrity’ are just about perfectly played.
All round a superb set and ample evidence that the doyens of British Blues have still got plenty to teach the rest.
