I just received the newest release,
Easy Gone, from
Ray Bonneville and it's interesting and poetic. Opening with
Who Do Call The Shots, Bonneville sets the ground work for what proves to be an interesting, story telling journey. Backed by only bass by Gurf Morlix and drums by Geoff Arsenault, Bonneville weaves his tale with and interesting intertwining of musical sounds and eerie almost supernatural guitar howls. Very nice.
Shake Off My Blues has a easy Ben E King/R&B kind of sound with a twist of island rhythm and steel guitar.
Where Has My Easy Gone has a really nice earthy feel not unlike some contemporary Ry Cooder stuff.
Love Is Wicked has a real folk quality along the lines of Merle Travis. Bonneville adds some cool guitar riffs as well as nicely nested harmonica lines creating one of the coolest tracks on the release.
When I Get To New York has a bit of a blues romp to it with an interesting underlying guitar rhythm. Bonneville again steps up on harp and shows a unique style in his own presentation. Bonneville makes his own niche with this music similar to what JJ Cale has done with his.
Lone Freighters Wail is a more straight forward folk ballad and also includes Will Sexton on bass, Rick Richards on drums, Richie Lawrence on piano and Mark Norvel on backing vocal. This track is very solid and nicely appointed with easy vibrato guitar and complimentary harp work. Very nice. On Hank Williams' classic
So Lonesome I Could Cry, Bonneville adds his own twist taking away all together the 3/4 timing and making it almost a garage/Lou Reed feel. Never losing it's sentimental honest feel, this is quite a successful interpretation.
Mile Marker 41 has an easy country folk feel. Comparisons to Dylan would not be at all out of line in delivery. Wailing guitar sounds add nicely to the overall ambiance of the track. Wrapping the track is
Two Bends In The Road, an easy acoustic ballad with only Bonneville on vocal and guitar. A nicely constructed track with a Richie Havens kind of feel is a really nice choice to conclude a nicely constructed release.
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