Customer Reviews

Time Traders

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

On May 15th I had the incredible pleasure to see Peter & the group play live. Absolutely one of the best shows I've seen in a long time! These guys played the first four tunes from this cd over two sets and I have to admit they sound better live. Nigel Watson's vocals are a perfect compliment to Peter's guitar work. Peter Stroud and Larry Tolfree add a strong rhythym section to keep the tempo. And then there's Roger Cotton, strong songwriting, great keyboards and a sly sense of humor. All in all a very tight band that clearly has great material in them to come. Finally, let me state to those critics of Peter's guitar work these days....GO SEE HIM LIVE! He makes it look so effortless that you will be amazed. A great cd and a great band live. Welcome back Peter!

P.S. This is the only 60's icon I've ever seen sign autographs after the show. A very humble man. Thanks!

I love the sound of this band, the rhythm section really rocks, and Pete's vocals are extraordinarily soulfull, mournfull and plaintive, and his guitar playing is as good as any I've heard, if not better.What also makes this album stand out is that all the tunes are recently penned ones by members of the group, and yet all the songs sound great, so it doesn't matter whether Pete's playing old tunes or new, they all sound great! Also, I was lucky enough to have front row seats at his June 29th show at The Basement in Sydney, and this band ROCKS! I love the guy, and I don't think he would have been out of place playing guitar with Tom Bombadil!

Time Traders finds Splinter Group on top of its chops. Though Peter Green may be the marque name here to many, this is a true band through and through. During all the years Green languished away from music, his cohorts Nigel Watson and Roger Cotton were honing their skills on guitar and keyboards. Peter Stroud and Larry Tolfree provide the perfect rhythm section. Green himself offers some fine lead guitar, conjuring up the old magic.

Two cuts, Feeling Good and Uganda Women, are not as good as the rest in my opinion, but Real World, Lies, and Wild Dogs are as good as it gets. Underway is a special treat, a real throwback to the old Fleetwood Mac (remember Oh Well!), and Snowy White even shows up to play along with Green.

The recording is clean and clear, and the music, at times underplayed, is crisp and refreshing and uncluttered. Perhaps this whole CD is a throwback of sorts, for it's music for the sake of music, no posturing, bragging, or baggage. Some reviewers lament what might have been had Green not been dogged by health problems, but what is key is that we have back one of the most influential performers of a generation.

Realistically, the Splinter Group's chances of success were always slim. First off, they had to achieve what most considered impossible in bringing Peter Green's burned talent back into the mainstream of the music business, secondly, they had to overcome the huge expectations of a generation of blues fans, many of who wanted nothing less than some magical reincarnation of Fleetwood Mac c.1968. A tough call indeed!

So... what have they delivered? Well, after an understandably low key start, something equally magical: an album that not only ranks as one of the best blues outings of recent years but which is pretty close to where the most outrageous optimist could have hoped Peter Green's original Fleetwood Mac would be 30 years on - different names, mellower music but still infused with the dazzling musicianship and raw, enthusiastic blues singing that was their hallmark. Sure, it contains only one Green penned song but the other band members do a highly creditable job of replicating his songwriting style and, in their own right, know how to write some impressive blues and R&B. Equally importantly their superb playing and Nigel Watson's empathetic singing wrap around him seamlessly allowing his wonderfully earthy voice (one of THE great white blues voices of all time, made all the better by age) and his still beautifully distinctive guitarwork to shine through. Without them Peter Green would probably never have climbed back on stage and could never have participated in an album of this quality; with them his charismatic talent is given the space and protection it now needs to succeed. Sounds over the top?... well see them live to understand the sympathetic, self-effacing skill required to bring out the best from a fragile but still brilliant icon.

And... if this all sounds too complicated then just buy "Time Traders", sit back and relish some of the best modern blues you'll ever hear.

After a couple of excellent acoustic releases, Green picks up the electric guitar and blasts back with 13 original tunes penned by individual band members. Green's vocals, while soft in places, are noticeably stronger on this disc than on earlier releases and his guitar playing sounds better than it has since he began his comeback. The CD lacks any notable standouts but overall it's holds together well and will receive repeated play in your CD changer.

I would give anything to be transported back to the late 60's and see Peter Green's FLEETWOOD MACK again. I saw them at the Gulfstream Festival in Hollywood, Florida.
That was THE sqreaming, hardest rocking English blues band that EVER existed. My God it just doesn't get better than that! "THEN PLAY ON" is still the best album of its' type. Only Savoy Brown's "STREET CORNER TALKIN" or "HELLBOUND TRAIN" comes close. Peter Green had evolved into a freeform guitarist (thanks to Jerry Garcia) by the time FLEETWOOD MACK closed down its' initial run.
The new stuff is a rediscovery of his roots, deep roots. He is now starting to evolve all over again. To put down his axe for over 30 years, and to then create something new yet old?, gives us all hope of the music we could be hearing from other discarded or lost musicians and bands.....Rick Basini

â€~Time Traders’ represents the continuing comeback for blues guitar legend Peter Green. If Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac was the high profile, star-making vehicle for Mr. Green, Splinter Group is a comparatively low-key ensemble where the man can comfortably do his thing. He continues to groove with blues-based music that solidifies his position as one of the best modern interpreters of the genre.

Peter Green reached his zenith as a creative performer in 1969. His guitar playing, singing and songwriting were cutting edge, and his music from that era stands up remarkably well. It is a fitting tribute to his excellence that so much music from the vaults from that era continues to be unearthed and released. Those of us who worshiped and glorified Peter Green back then should not be disappointed with this recording.

While is voice is more ragged and fragile, you can hear conviction in his voice and sincerity in his performance. He’s led quite a life; Peter Green is living testimony to the power of the blues. Unlike many of his more famous contemporaries such as Eric Clapton or Carlos Santana, he has not sold out; this man is the genuine article.

â€~Time Traders’ has a few gems â€" and naturally, these are the cuts that most favor Green and his guitar. Favorites include “Real World,” “(Down the Road of) Temptation,” “Lies” and “Feeling Good.” The Splinter Group is a tight, cohesive backing band and Nigel Watson continues to lend strong, sympathetic support â€" in essence, he’s the glue holding this project together. Several arrangements also use a brass section to good effect, and Watson’s guitar playing continues to improve â€" so much so that it’s hard to determine which is he or Green. In some cases, you’ll have to work quite hard to tell one from the other. Overall, the musicianship is impeccable.

All Peter Green fans would like to see him pen new material, but we’ll have to be content (for now) with output from Roger Cotton, Peter Stroud and Nigel Watson, whose “Wild Dogs” is one of his best. Green re-records “Underway” (with guest Snowy White), but this version does not (or cannot) improve upon the original.

All in all, fine recordings by a living legend well on the comeback trail.

I have to heartily dis-agree w/ some of the reviews that slam peter and doubt who is playing guitar. Both peter and nigel play guitar on all these new CD's. I have seen them live, and own the live DVD....and peter does play guitar, and sing. It is quite easy to hear the difference in their tone, like the difference between duane allman and dickey betts. As BB King said; "peter green has more talent in his little pinky than I have in my entire body". Peter has had a very rough life and it is brilliant to hear from him again. The man is a musical treasure, his singing is sublime and soulful, and this band is top notch.

If you count among your favorite groups the likes of Bad Wizard, Alabama Thunder Pussy, The Queers, Angel, Atomic Bitchwax or anything from the Heavy Metal genre this is not your CD. Also, if you are looking for vintage Peter Green, you will be better served by looking into "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions", The Peter Green Collection" or even, "Green & Guitar". Comparing the Peter Green of old to this CD is not a fair comparison, especially when you consider all that Green has endured to reach this point. All that being said, this is really a pretty good CD. While it is just as true that there are no stand out tracks here, the disc as a whole, with songs written by the various members of the Splinter Group, is enjoyable and easy listening. After giving it a couple of listens, you will be plesantly surprised.

I HAVE ALL THE SPLINTER GROUP ALBUMS AND THIS IS THE BEST STUDIO WORK TO DATE. IT'S ALSO THE FIRST TIME I QUIT MAKING COMPARISON'S TO PETER'S 1960'S WORK. I ESPECIALLY ENJOY "REAL WORLD", "SHADOW ON MY DOOR", "UNDERWAY" & "UGANDA WOMAN". THIS MUSIC IS SOME OF THE BEST BLUES EVER AND I HAVE BEEN LISTENING & PLAYING THE BLUES SINCE THE BRITISH BLUES INVASION. NOTE: KIM SIMMONS IS GOOD BUT NOT IN PETER'S LEAGUE, AND HE NEVER MADE A GOOD COMEBACK...ESPECIALLY LIKE PETER GREEN & SPLINTER GROUP. YEAH, A BLUES LEGEND. THANK YOU PETER & SPLINTER GROUP.