Martin Harley was born in South-East England but is a passionate devotee of the Delta Blues. This collection of ten songs are played 'live' in the Southern Grand Studio in Nashville with no added overdubs.
Harley sings and plays laptop Hawaiian acoustic guitar ably accompanied by Daniel Kimbro on upright bass.
The album includes respectful arrangements of two much visited traditional tunes - Goodnight Irene and Nobody's Fault But Mind.
Another cover is of Tom Waits' sacrilegious Chocolate Jesus which is sprightlier than the original due to some virtuoso slide guitar playing.
Other tunes are Harleys own with Money Don't Matter being a new take on the title track from his 2005 solo album.
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These effectively render the blues in straight, no chaser manner on the basis that if it ain't broke why fix it. This makes for a solid enough album although I'm sure the material sounds far better in a live setting.
The musicianship is faultless but what's really lacking is the earthy rawness and intensity of the early bluesmen; the key quality that cannot simply be copied or learned.
Martin Harley's website
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