Ruf Records artist: Cyril Neville - Magic Honey - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Magic Honey, from Cyril Neville and it's great! Cyril always puts on a super show but this release just has that something special. Opening with the title track, Magic Honey, Nevil puts his own spin on the You Don't Love Me feel of track and it's really cool! Aside from the solid vocals and rhythmic beat that you have to expect from Neville, there is some screaming harp work and also a crisp guitar solo from Cranston Clements. On Dr John's Swamp Funk, a funky New Orleans style track features nice bass lines from Carl Dufrene and super keys from Dr John and Allen Toussaint complimenting Cyril on vocal. Mean Willie Green lays down a nice drum line. David Z opens Something's Got A Hold On Me with some searing guitar riffs and Neville sings some of his strongest vocals on the release over a bluesy melody. Excellent! Another Man has a light pop/island sound with Latin percussion feel. Again Toussaint is outstanding on keys and Cranston Clements plays some stellar Spanish electric guitar riffs. On Paul Butterfield's You Can Run But You Can't Hide, Neville turns up the funk and Clements turns on the steam cookin the guitar lead over red hot drums by Green and bass from Dufrene. Invisible has a great back beat and a jazz overlay. Primarily a vocal track over drums, Clements lays down some really lead guitar jam riffs. Blues Is The Truth has a soul feel on strong blues roots. Neville really gets the grit on this track vocally and Clements shows his versatility laying down some really strong blues riffs. Running Water has the real New Orleans funk going and it will really get you squirming in your seat fast, Neville is a percussionist after all. Blues guitar king Walter Trout stops by for the cook out adding gasoline to an already fiery track. Working Man is more of a contained blues rock track with a cooking undertone and actually breaks into a frenzy with Mike Zito on guitar and solid drumming accents from Neville and Green. On island track, Slow Motion, Neville digs in Reggae style with a smooth percussive rhythm and Jamaican authenticity. Clements again shows his versatility and dexterity playing nicely blended riffs over melodic vicals from Cyril, Gaynielle and Omari Neville.

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