Kelly Joe Phelps - Brother Sinner And The Whale

Published Thursday 6th December 2012
Kelly Joe Phelps - Brother Sinner And The Whale
Kelly Joe Phelps - Brother Sinner And The Whale

STYLE: Blues
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 131214-19683
LABEL: Black Hen BHMCD70
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Down the years Kelly Joe has built up quite a following in the folk clubs and festivals with his impressive mix of Americana, jazz and blues and after 2009's instrumental album 'Western Bell' he turns in what must surely be his best ever album. Mojo magazine wrote about this album, "His songs bristle with raw spirituality as he searches for the context of a less-than-devout adulthood through his Seventh Day Adventist upbringing. This internal tug-o-war is in itself enough to give anyone the blues, but it's his playing that sets the heart racing." Racing indeed as he demonstrates his finger-picking mastery and winning ways with slide guitar and with songs like "Talking To Jehovah", "I've Been Converted" and "Goodbye To Sorrow" one is drawn in by an album which is dark and brooding yet enigmatically, full of light and hope.

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