Reviews roundup – David “Honeyboy” Edwards vs. Retrodelix vs. Gonzalo Bergara vs. Smoky Greenwell vs. Yigga Digga
DAVID “HONEYBOY” EDWARDS
I’m Gonna Tell You Somethin’ That I Know
Pro Sho Bidness
David “Honeyboy” Edwards died back in 2011. He was one of the last links to the origins of the blues having been born in Mississippi in 1915. He earned a living as an itinerant guitarist playing acoustic Delta Blues. He first recorded in 1942 and this live recording in 2010 was his final one, when he was 95 years old.
He’s playing electric on this release backed by guitarist/producer Jeff Dale’s band The South Woodlawners and if you look it up on that there internet you can get this as a CD / DVD combo release. He doesn’t stray far from his roots as he kicks things off with the Howlin’ Wolf standard “Ride with Me Tonight” and works his way through a vintage set of material.
It’s what people like to call “of historical interest” as musically it’s no world beater. At times his vocals fade in and out and most of the guitar work is handled by Jeff Dale. However, there’s no one left standing who can say they say Robert Johnson play live and if you look upon this as documentary rather then performance then you’ll get more out of it. If you do manage to get the combo then there is also a short conversation with Honeyboy about his younger days.
RETRODELIX
Soldiers of Love
7music
Retrodelix from Germany can trace their roots back to the early seventies when the members were involved in the nascent Krautrock movement with Michael Bundt and Hans Frauenschuh performing at the Nunich Olympics in 1972 and appearing in the feature film “Timetable of Seduction”. Their band then was Nine Days’ Wonder and they put out an album called ‘We Never Lost Control’.
Fast forward a hundred years and they got together with Stefan Hartmann (keyboards), drummer Karl-Heinz Weiler and guitarist and singer Jorge Heppnerson to make an album that harks back to the sixties rather than the seventies. So it’s basically old school psychedelic rock whtich will make fans of the Jefferson Airplane very content.
They’ve got the hippy vibe down pat, their lyrics seem to be full of the peace and love claptrap that folk in the sixties thought would change the world, and musically they’re a very good band indeed. Not my bag, man, but they do it very well.
GONZALO BERGARA
Zalo’s Blues
independent
Gonzalo Bergera is one of the top gypsy jazz guitarists in the world. He’s based in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is widely acclaimed by other guitarists as one of the best around.
But on this record he’s done got the blues. And not just any blues. Electric blues-rock. Which is a surprise, but then Charlie Baty, formerly of Little Charlie & The Nightcats reckons he’s “one of the most talented guitarists in the universe”. So who are we to argue.
Turns out though, he’s not new at this as early on he spent time in the USA, due to his love for the blues. It’s also his first time out as a vocalist, but even if his singing doesn’t match his picking, this still makes for an excellent album. It’s all original bar a cover of Jimmy Reed’s “You Don’t Have to Go” and mainly sticks to a tried and tested Texas style.
So there are plenty of shuffles on the likes of “Levi” and “Drawback” but even when he slows things down on “Ines” or gets his acoustic thing going on “Won’t Stay With You” he has talent to spare.
SMOKY GREENWELL
South Louisiana Blues
Greenwell Records
My first encounter with Louisiana blues veteran Smoky Greenwell was just last year when he released his ‘Live At The Old US Mint’ album. However, he has been working the clubs since the seventies, and has got nine studio albums to his name prior to this.
And he really is an amazing moothie man. That’s harmonica player to anyone no fae around here. Along with guitarist Jack Kolb this album was originally intended to be a tribute to swamp blues legend Lonesome Sundown but that has ended up being whittled down to three of his tunes.
There is some fantastic music here with “Boogie Twist” the absolute standout number which also features ex-Allman Brother Johnny Neel on keyboards. As well as some great harmonica work, Greenwell also shows himself to be a great blues saxophonists, something shown to best effect on “Walking with Mr. Lee”. It’s certainly a step up from the live album and comes highly recommended to fans of blues harp.
YIGGA DIGGA
Faded Glory
independent
Some metal now from Pennsylvania, the Quaker state. Although what they would think of some out and out metal mixed with southern sludge is anyone’s guess.
But that’s what the dreadfully named Yigga Digga are purveying. And regardless of the fact that yigga digga is allegedly the noise a guitar makes, I certainly wouldn’t be walking into my local record shop to ask for their new release. Luckily for you we have this internet thing.
Back to the music and they seem to really like Corrosion of Conformity and Down. Which is no bad thing. And fans of those bands may need some new music bearing in mind Mr Anselmos recent behaviour. Turns out this is a comeback of sorts as YD put out their debut album a decade ago. And it’s a shame they never followed through as their is some excellent material here.
Tune like “Slave to Life”, “Memory” and “Wishing Well” really make their mark and, name aside, YD should be much better known.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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