The disconcerting thing about receiving an album by a Blues guitarist new to you is when you see that the album is titled ‘Volume 3’ implying that you are well behind the ball. It almost screams at you “Where the hell have you been all this time?” Well for those like me who didn’t know of Steve Hill, he’s a ‘one man band blues rock machine’ who hails from Canada, an ‘overnight sensation 20 years in the making’. This is not his third album though…it’s his tenth so it’s very much time to play catch up!
One man bands of course aren’t a new thing and currently we have our own Blues and Roots legend down here in Australia in Claude Hay and whilst Steve’s approach is a little more bombastic and he’s standing rather tan seated there’s a certain sonic kinship there. Hay may be rootiser but he and Hill share the same palette.
‘Solo Recordings Volume 3’ is made up of 12 songs that run the gamut from hard-edged Blues Rock to Americana, electric and acoustic, taking in a little soul at times,and peppered with three choice cover tunes.
Of the rockers the opening salvo of ‘Damned’ and ‘Dangerous’ that open the album are spawned by Hill’s chunky guitar and a real statement of intent. If you love your Blues hard and immediate then ‘Dangerous’ just could be one of the best Blues songs you’ll hear all year.
In the ranks of Rockers they are joined by the equally impressive ‘Rhythm All Over’ and the earth-shaking ‘Smoking Hot Machine’ which will win many new fans who like their Blues hard. The Rock doesn’t end there though, and later the groovy stomp of ‘Can’t Take It With You’ and the smoking delta voodoo of ‘Walkin’ Grave’ which closes the album in fine fiery style, show that Hill is a real rocker at heart.
In between those heavier, headier cuts which make up half of the album there are he gentler tones of Americana – like on the wonderful ‘Slowly Slipping Away’ which sounds like vintage fare by fellow Canadian Neil Young. Then there’s the short and sweet acoustic twang of ‘Emily’ and the intricate and delicate acoustics and warning lyrics of ‘Troubled Times’.
The three covers are fine choices too – and whilst ‘Still A Fool & A Rollin’ Stone’ might be my pick of the three with its relentless slow Blues push; the takes on ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’/Stop Breaking Down’ and ‘Going Down that Road Feeling Bad’ you could argue are almost worth the price of admission on their own!
Don’t miss this one,and if you’re luck enough to catch him in October and November on his UK tour supporting Wishbone ash, if reports are to be believed it’s a show to stick in that diary.
