We’re only into April and it has already been a remarkable year for the blues. We’ve had live albums (and UK tours) from Joe Bonamassa and Ian Siegal, new albums from Dan Patlansky and Robin Trower (all of the above being excellent, by the by) and a series of stunning archive releases from Gov’t Mule – it must be something in the air! To add to that already impressive list, we have this release from the guitar legend Robben Ford who has teamed up with an equally impressive list of legends including Keb’ Mo’, Robert Randolph, ZZ Ward, Tyler Bryant, Warren Haynes and, best of all, the wonderful Sonny Landreth, for ‘into the sun’, an eleven track record that is as funky, as joyful, as musically impressive and as passionate as any blues record you’re likely to hear this year.
With over thirty-five albums to his credit, you could forgive Robben Ford for having succumbed to ennui, but ‘into the sun’ is an album that sounds like the work of a fresh-faced youngster approaching its debut. It has a light, springy feel that instantly brightens the atmosphere and it is a joy just to sit and listen to, whether it is to admire the world class musicianship or just enjoy the sun-kissed vibe it gives off. The album opens with the mid-tempo swell of ‘Rose of Sharon’ with its Hammond organ kiss, subtle guitar strokes and warm bass tones. Robben has a warm, rich voice that recalls Sonny Landreth and his liquid guitar work is an absolute delight. A short track, ‘rose…’ sets the scene perfectly and then we’re into soul territory for ‘day of the planets’ with its light touch guitar, lazy vocal and relaxed beat. It’s music to listen to in the sun, beer in hand and friends around, and you can’t help but feel uplifted when listening to it. ‘Howlin’ at the moon’ has a loose groove to it and a funky feel, showcasing Robben’s diverse tastes whilst simultaneously keeping the overall feel of the album loose and lithe. With its rich soul backing vocals and gritty solo, ‘howlin’…’ will have you tapping your feet whether you want to or not, and it’s hard to disagree with Robben’s contention that these are amongst the best songs he has ever written. ‘Rainbow cover’ has a touch of rock ‘n’ roll to it, recalling The Shadows with its sun-kissed, reverb-drenched lead guitar and faster tempo and then Robben is joined by that inimitable pairing Keb’ Mo and Robert Randolph, two artists whose presence so enlivened the Crossroads festival series. A stunning piece of classic blues with split vocal duties, soul backing singers and jazzy piano, it settles into the same vibe found on Hugh Laurie’s albums, and, like the other tracks here, it’s just a joy to listen to.
Another guest appears on the next track, ‘breath of me’ featuring ZZ Ward. Like Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph, ZZ is allowed to stamp her distinctive presence on the track and the vocal duet held between her and Robben strikes impressive sparks as sultry guitar lines weave an intimate mesh around them. It’s a dusky kind of blues, best played as the sun sinks below the horizon but it’s not quite time to break out the red wine and candles because Warren Haynes appears on ‘high heels and throwing things’ to kick things up a notch, and with an elastic bass line, the song has a fresh, funky vibe that is entirely irresistible. Raising the heat a fair few degrees more, ‘Cause of war’ is a blistering blues work out with a slamming riff, throbbing bass and razor sharp solos all tearing across the surface. If there’s one criticism, it’s that the song fades out way too soon, and the tantalising epic solo that concludes the song is cut short in its prime. However, all is not lost because ‘so long 4 U’ (ghastly text speak in the title not withstanding!) drifts lazily into view boasting Sonny Landreth’s oh-so-distinctive guitar work and a woozy feel that makes you just want to sink into the music. Another song with a funky vibe is ‘Same train’, a song that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Rolling Stones album with its sweet harmonica runs and gritty lead work. That just leaves ‘Stone cold heaven’ (with Tyler Bryant) to round out the album with its shuffling percussion, Hammond organ stabs and soul singers and the disc spins to a halt without your even realising its reached its conclusion.
Robben Ford has had a long and varied career in music, but there’s a feeling with ‘into the sun’ that the process of writing and recording songs is as much a pleasure to him now as it was when he started. There’s no sense of pressure; no sense that Robben is trying to one-up any of his past endeavours, but in being so relaxed he has created what may be his finest and most engaging set of songs. Nothing here is reinventing the wheel, rather this is the sound of a guitarist at the top of his game having fun in the studio, working with his peers and crafting a set of songs that are an unending source of joy to those who listen to them. ‘Into the sun’ is perfectly named. It is a bright, sunny album with plenty of depth and power that you can’t help but want to listen to over and over again. The collaborations work wonderfully, with each artist bringing their own unique skills to the recording and Robben is happy to let them have their head. There’s no ego tripping here, just great musicians happy to be working in one another’s company. Thus, ‘into the sun’ comes whole heartedly recommended. It is one of those albums that lifts the spirits (much like Sonny Landreth’s gorgeous ‘from the reach’) with its warm hearted approach and generous spirit and it is surely an essential addition to the collection of any blues fan.
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