Reference Recordings artist: Fiona Boyes - Professin' The Blues - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Professin' The Blues, by Fiona Boyes and it's pure. This release is stripped down with only Boyes on vocal and guitar/resonator, joined by Jimi Bott on drums and Denny Croy on bass. hand writing 18 pages of liner notes, Boyes does a real nice job of bringing you into the environment with her. Opening with Can't Stay Here No More, Boyes creates the feeling of years of living on the road and resting on a spot. With only acoustic guitar, tambourine and drum this is primitive. Devil You Know maintains the primitive feel but is stepped up in pace. With cool resonator slide Boyes considers the cons of accepting the status quo. With a jangly, rag time sound, Lay Down With Dogs considers fidelity with a touch of humor. With just a touch of country rock, Card Sharp, has a cool cigar box riff that follows the melody. Sliding into the chorus, a cool track with a cool hook. One of my favorite track on the release, Old and Stiff has a rag feel with rim shots and the sassy attitude of the original blues women with a play on words. A contemporary island sound with simple chords and bongos, this is a really cool little number with a dance beat and nice vocals. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Stubborn Old Mule. With a quick stepping pace and traces of Taj Mahal reinforced by Croy's bass work, a strong foot stomper. Catfish Fiesta has a taste of New Orleans and features highlighted bass work of Croy and a snappy Latin beat. Very nice. If I Should Die is an eerie sort of track with a melody along the lines of Baby Please Don't Go. Interesting. Kicking to the full blown Chicago version of Baby Please Don't Go, Boyes vocals are strong and gritty accompanied by her cigar box guitar and drums. Wrapping the release is, Face In The Mirror, an easy folk track with a flowing waltz like rhythm. Boyes takes her time singing and with her guitar just takes it easy and sends it home. Nice closer to a cool release.




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