Ruby Electric
Provogue Records July 11th 2011
This is a really gritty raw sounding album with some softer edges which kept me listening throughout. It's in two volumes. Volume One, recorded live in the studio using old age recording equipment to achieve a vintage sound. Nice job. The second Volume on the same disc, consists of songs recorded live in concert. In both volumes, the styles and tempos are varied and the playing is first rate, right up there with the best. This is no surprise as Sayce has an impreccable pedrigree and has surrounded himself with quality musicians. Kenny Aronoff (drums), Joel Gottschalk (bass), Fritz Lewak (drums), and Fred Mandel (piano, organ) for Volume One with Dave Cobb appearing on Bass for Set Us Free. Gottschalk and Lewak are on Volume Two.
This album starts with a cool duet Let The Love In featuring Philip and Melissa Etheridge. Set Us Free with choppy chunky guitar and a slow mid section, slowing down on Daydream Tonight and accelerating again combining fuzzbox vocals and rock steady drums on The King Of New Mexico. A Stevie Ray Lennyesque sounding guitar starts Were You There and there is more than a little bit of Jimi in the cd's title track. Gotta love that more than a little.
Volume Two was recorded live in Europe last year and the songs are brutal and punchy. I could not resist turning up the volume a notch or two particularly on the wall of sound that is Helios. I was equally impressed with the Sayce penned Slipaway and Alchemy. Evident throughout the audience facing set is Philip's rapport with the crowd. I'm looking forward to experiencing this myself when Philip comes to the London Borderline later this month.
For guitar lovers, there is much to love in this new album which should also gain Philip a much wider group of fans.
Rob Pope
GuitaristTV.com
Philip Sayce will be playing loud at the following venues this month:
25th - London Borderline
Booking: www.kililive.com
27th - Bristol Tunnels
Booking: www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
28th - Holmfirth Picturedrome
Booking: www.picturedrome.net
29th - Manchester Band On The Wall
Booking: www.bandonthewall.org
Tickets also available from:
www.seetickets.com
www.thegigcartel.com
Join Philip Sayce Online at:
www.philipsayce.com
www.facebook.com/PhilipSayceMusic
http://twitter.com/Philipsayce
Many thanks to Peter at Noble PR for the images:
http://www.noblepr.co.uk/
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