Customer Reviews

Villanelle

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

 

 

Paul Reddick's twangy interpretations combine soothing rounded vocals and hill country-influenced slide guitar work. Villanelle is a visit back to simpler times including more traditional instruments (harmonica, mandolin, and acoustic bass) put into a new format and timeframe. Coming across as a bit country and a whole serving of traditional front-porch blues rock, the obvious influence of the modal Delta is incorporated with the chromatic structure of the guitar, while the harmonica and mandolin carry the melody, often settling with a single string. Paul Reddick understands, studies, and appreciates turn of the century acoustic music, boogie-woogie, and the electric blues while maintaining the appeal vocally of more contemporary rock bands. He sings close to the microphone for the mono effect on a few if the tunes, and re-creates many old-school effects in a modern studio. Reddick is helping carry an important tradition of music while at the same time forging his own path as a contemporary bluesman. All content copyright www.maximumink.com

Colin Linden, the producer and gutar player has stolen every production lick of Daniel Lanois -- which works well in a strange balance with the tape loops of Reddick's voice and Linden's guitar. Fascinating work. Great harmonica, intelligent lyrics and lots of good guitar licks. Gets better and better with repeated listenings.

Paul Riddick really likes the nearly lost pre-war style of Blues more acoustic in the music, but rocks just the same. The rest of the aspects of the CD are up to modern levels, of sound quality and mixing. The songs are very well done, for me this is just what the blues needed shot in the arm to get them back to the roots. If you like the older blues but have been looking for something new, here it is Villanelle.**** 4 stars!