Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Martin Schmidt - The Blues and Some Other Stuff
 | This is virtually a blues album, with 14 instros in a few shades. There are a couple of tracks that work well adjacent to surf, and so it merits review here. Low marks are due to this site's surf perspective. As a blues album, it's very pleasant. |
Picks: While She Was Sleeping, All I Ever Wanted To Be, Tonight The Blues Came Over Me, Slidin' South, Jimi's Lullaby, Cruel World, Super Babe Groove, Spaghetti, I've Never Been To Texas, The Godfather, Alligator, Private Eye, Rattlesnake, Feelin' Blue
Track by Track Review
Blues (Instrumental)
Long vibrato notes like Hendrix used to play the blues through, reverently and richly play a lilting melody. "While She Was Sleeping" is a very pleasant track.
Blues (Instrumental)
"All I Ever Wanted To Be" is a fairly straight electric blues in the modern sense of the term. Tasteful and with a meandering melody line.
Tonight The Blues Came Over Me Blues (Instrumental)
This slow blues cries in the night for a home to go to. Sultry and forlorned, "Tonight The Blues Came Over Me" moves slowly across a darkened room in search of an exit.
Blues (Instrumental)
Moody bluesy slide liquefies the afternoon sun as "Slidin' South" unfolds. Very smooth.
Jimi's Lullaby Blues (Instrumental)
Big wah wah and a nod to Jimi Hendrix. Not huge like Jimi's tunes, but psycho and fluid with an optimistic melody line.
Cruel World Blues (Instrumental)
"Cruel World" is a fairly traditional blues, softly running out of the guitar late at night, after everyone has gone.
Blues (Instrumental)
A funky groove sets up the wah wah guitar in a post Shaft epic adventure in what might be the German jazz based prog of the seventies. Nice track.
Spaghetti (Instrumental)
Leaning on the lost souls of the spaghetti western, this softly shouts of serapes and sombreros hiding 45's and stubby cigars. Excellent exotic drums and echoed guitar twang.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
With a beat and bounce right out of Austin, "I've Never Been To Texas" romps and rolls with fun and a gleam in the eye.
The Godfather Rock (Instrumental)
"The Godfather" is not the score from the film, nor is it very Italian sounding. It is slow and dramatic, and a little moody.
Blues (Instrumental)
Slide guitar tells the tale of the "Alligator," an ancient beast prone to sudden movements of assault. Leathery and fanciful.
Private Eye Blues (Instrumental)
Jazzy guitar and a playful melody riff softly fill the smoky bar 'round about midnight, when it's half past time to go home.
Rattlesnake Blues (Instrumental)
Damped and thumped, "Rattlesnake" slithers through a dry soundscape with the occasional intention of its namesake.
Blues (Instrumental)
Perhaps the most tasteful blues here, "Feelin' Blue" is a mid tempo tune that borders on more familiar territory, but without being derivative. Warm and friendly, and quite enjoyable.