Steel Notes Magazine Steel Notes Magazine - Winter 2017/18 | Page 49

www.steelnotesmagazine.com Steel Notes Magazine 3. One Supernova - Wide Awake 5:02 – The first thing that hits the listener is a really great voice that oozes soul. Then the band kicks in and all I can do is smile. I dig the percussion. It sounds like he is having a lot of fun. The guitar is just right with enough grit to make a 70s kid head bang while not being so heavy that the melodic groove is lost. Overall this is a fantastic song that I am sure will be enjoyed by listeners the world over. 4. Deborah Henriksson - Only You 3:40 – I dig Deborah’s music or I could say ”Jag gillar verkligen Deborahs musik.” Deborah, like myself, is an American raised Swede. All pseudo- nationalistic nonsense aside, Deborah does have an absolutely wonderful voice and I cannot wait to see her live the next time I am in Sweden. Honestly folks, if we could get Mandy and Deborah on the same bill, it would be one spellbinding evening as both of these women have great voices that I could listen to all day long. You will enjoy this track as much as I do, I am sure. 5. Blind Lemon Pledge - Language of Love 4:33 – I first heard Blind Lemon Pledge on a Blues compilation album Bongo Boy put out a while back. I remember being blown away then and every time I have heard him since. This song is no exception. I dig the up-tempo laid down by the percussion as BLP comes in with some vocals that fit well with the music. I really like it when I can tell the band is having fun and there is no doubt in my mind that everyone is having a good time playing this track. 6. Studeo - Our Perfect Place to Be 4:04 – This is an interesting track with a real jazz feel. I can see this being performed in a smoke-filled club in the wee hours of the morning. Are those brushes I hear on the drums? The groove is just so old-school cool, rat pack cool, that the listener cannot help but nod in approval. Then there are the vocals, this woman has soul. I have the same big goofy grin I get whenever I hear something that really moves me. WOW! 7. Les Fradkin - Black Gypsy 2:50 – Les is a monster player that I first heard a couple of years ago. His music made an impression on me. This song reminds me why I was impressed. There is one word that describes this track – hypnotic. Hypnotic, bordering on psychedelic. Les has the perfect British Invasion voice and the music reminds me of something that would have come over in about 66. Well done Les, you have, once again, written a song that really keeps my attention – there is just so much going on that even my easily distracted mind is not tempted to succumb to other stimuli. Steel Notes Magazine www.steelnotesmagazine.com 49