If you have been a
blues 'fan' for more than five minutes, you will by now have
discovered that the blues 'Broad Church' really is the Gift that just
goes on Giving. Like most of the creative arts, you continually find
corners, strange stuff, mad stuff, original stuff
which grabs you by the lapel and demands your attention while you hear
its story.
You will also find that
often it is those very artists - who are independent spirits, not
crazy about the rules and conventions, who are the ones who catch
your eye and your ear. They are invariably masters of their art, be
it poetry, drama, painting or music, but their priorities are
slightly different. They all tend to push boundaries and break rules
because, as musicians in particular, they are constantly searching
and refining ways in which they can express to an audience the road
they are travelling.
Tone Tanner is one of
those musicians. His new album 'Duels' is a modern blues-based album
put together by a fine creative independent musician who, by the way,
as well as supplying vocals and guitar also plays bass, keyboards and
percussion. He also builds his own guitars - of course.
It comes as no surprise to find that this well travelled artist brings along with his solid blues guitar base, influences bouncing between Prog, Trance and Frank Zappa - with respectful nods to Hendrix, Rory and Son House on the way. You will find that Our Tone doesn't do Easy Listening. He plays as much as he can on the live circuit and his set lists can often contain both personal takes on covers as well as complex original works with loops and delays, slide resonator and acoustic.
Through the thirteen
tracks on this album his substantial technique lets him play across
half a dozen styles which fit the engaging and wry lyrics hand in glove. The
lyrics range from smart political (Kill the Party), smart comic (Sort
Ur Life Out) and there is terrific funky piece (Read to The End)
which has some superb vocals from Rachael Medhurst alongside some
very tight guitar work.
Tone Tanner's last
album 'Shot' was a well received 'concept style' single story piece. What
is so attractive about 'Duels' is that this time he has brought his huge
repertoire to the table on one album, a smorgasbord of individual and
interesting styles and skills. This is a listening record. Buy it,
sit down and listen to an original talent.
Tone Tanner is playing at the Mini-Muni at the massive Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival this week-end. Put his gig on your 'must watch' list!
Tone Tanner is playing at the Mini-Muni at the massive Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival this week-end. Put his gig on your 'must watch' list!
