Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Anyone who saw this man's fine performance at the 1992 Greenbelt will know that Melody Maker were not hyping when they called D B "a great singer (Elvis via Van Morrison) and a charismatic performer". This is the man's fourth album and even more than its predecessors explores bluesy roots taking in the swamp stomp of John Lee Hooker to the lolloping grooves of Steely Dan. This album is full of delights. "Hands Of Love" for instance with a refrain "I've been lifted by the hands of love" you'd swear was coming at you courtesy of a clapboard church in Mississippi and not a recording studio in Edinburgh while "Struggle In Vain" piles on memorable imagery ("Bonfires in Babylon/Neon signs in Avalon/Everybody getting it on except for those who ain't/In the new tower of Babel/Twelve white men sit round a table/Playing Cain to your Abel and end up as media saints"). As good an album as you're likely to hear this year.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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