Sonny Landreth has had, by any standards, a wonderful career. An exponent in a style in which he is largely unique, his “Slydeco” approach mixes Zydeco (a genre specific to Louisiana) and liquid slide in a manner that has earned the admiration of musicians such as Eric Clapton, the latter declaring Sonny to be one of the most advanced guitarists in the world. Now back with his sixteenth album (excluding expanded editions and live recordings), Sonny has followed up the multiple-award-winning Bound By The Blues (2015) by reuniting with RS Field (who helmed The Road We’re On, Outward Bound and South Of I-10), Sonny’s trio of breakout albums. Field, alongside co-producer Tony Daigle coaxes a strong performance from Sony and his band, the result being a typically eclectic, ten-song record that captures the atmosphere of famed Dockyard Studios (Lafayette), wherein the band recorded live.
Opening with the title track, the album gets off to a fine start with Sonny in typically laid-back form, his laconic vocal offset by his flashing fingers moving restlessly over the fretboard. Ably backed by the wonderfully underplayed percussion of Brian Bignac, and the warm pulse of David Ranson’s bass, Sonny crafts a gorgeous, melodic opener for the album that instantly draws the listener into his warm, sun-kissed world. The instrumental (one of four on the record) Lover Dance With Me sees Sonny trading his slide for the tremolo arm and a Leslie rotating speaker. A fast-paced, toe-tappin’ number, it’s Sonny and his band at their most danceable and Brian’s crisp beat keeps things moving briskly along. It’s followed by the whimsical Mule, a sweet shuffle with a bouncy rhythm and plenty of Cajun atmosphere. The instrumental Groovy Goddess is well-titled, Sonny and Steve Conn squaring off against one another in a manner reminiscent of Blackmore and Lord, conjuring up a psychedelic storm in the process. The first half of the album concludes with Somebody Gotta Make A Move, a wonderful collaboration between Steve (who wrote the piece) and Sonny, who gives it all. Set against a lazy beat, it’s a lovely blues ballad that really ties the first half of the album together.
The second half of the album opens with Beyond Borders an instrumental originally planned for the collaborative album From The Reach, which sees Conn take on a role originally planned for Carlos Santana. Another fast-paced track, Beyond Borders sees the band simply letting loose in the studio and having a great time in the process. Next up, Don’t Ask Me is classic Landreth, the opening Slydeco riff and hazy atmosphere both welcome and familiar to anyone who has followed Sonny over the years. It’s followed by mid-tempo album highlight The Wilds Of Wonder, a track that sees Sonny unveil a grittier guitar tone which, despite its languid pace, sees the song prove to be an irresistible juggernaut. It’s followed by sweet instrumental Many Worlds, which sees Sonny conjure up alien landscapes, purely by the power of his guitar. It’s a lovely little track that segues into album closer, Something Grand, a warm, rich finale that casts one final spell over the listener before leaving them with just a hint of Cajun spice lingering in the air.
Sonny Landreth is one of those rare musicians who seems to be able to weave the most magical of moods from the sparsest of arrangements. Whether playing a short, instrumental ditty such as Many Worlds or unveiling a rockier side with the exquisite The Wilds Of Wonder, his ability to draw the listener in and keep them immersed within his unique view of the world is unparalleled and every album is a treat to savour. Like Bound By The Blues, Blacktop Run sounds like no one other than Sonny Landreth and yet, that’s not to say that Sonny has not expanded his palette. The collaboration with Steve Conn, the lovely Somebody Gotta Make A move, sees a different tuning deftly employed, whilst closing track Something Grand is simply a magical moment that you wish would last forever. As warm as the Louisiana breeze and just as evocative, Blacktop Run is the perfect antidote to these troubled times, drawing the listener far away from their cares. 9.5/10
