Finally after a decades long friendship Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel have got together to record an album, they started work on the album in March 2020 just as the world was about to go to hell in a handcart. They then used any spare time they could find in their busy schedules to put this album together. They wrote played and produced everything apart from the drums Ric Parnell provided on I Have Seen The Light, to come up with a rather wonderfully mature set of Blues inflected songs for the 2020's.
The album opens with the mature blues of Runaway Train with all sorts of reflections on life and getting to live a long life, full of sage advice, as well as peerless playing, the slide guitar just jumps out, as does the obvious joy they both bring to the music.
Slow Down Billy takes a wry look at the terrible mess the world currently appears to be in, even if they are as worried about OD'ing on Caffeine as they are about World War 3, as the shuffling beat has the effect of being the bedrock for the guitars, to mix in elements of country blues and honky tonk while sounding wonderfully effortless.
Mostly We Drive has a languorous feel, of seasoned muso's out on the road again, headed for yet one more one-night stand, in a town or city they may or may not be familiar with, as the carefully picked blues eases the pain of being stuck in another traffic jam. Before they get pulled over by the traffic cops, hoping to be allowed on their merry way without too much difficulty, or any bad weather, anything to keep driving on that endless road.
It Doesn't Matter is a good rant at the lying toads who claim to rule us, as politicians, they share their hatred of authority, all they really want is the freedom to make more spectral music, driving blues and heartfelt rock & roll, whatever you do stop lying to them.
I Have Seen The Light has the gospel blues spirit coursing through its veins and guitars raining notes down on the listener. They've seen the light, but have you, well have a listen to this and hopefully you'll recognise where they have lifted the couplets in the lyrics from and feel inspired.
Arcadia is supplications to the nymphs inhabiting this pastoral rural blues, that works as a musical interlude halfway through the album.
Music Brings Us Closer Together is the message of love they want to spread, to bring disparate people together, everyone getting high through the power of music, having fun enjoying themselves, putting aside petty differences to worship the magic of the way music can connect people all across the globe.
Blues Maker is a celebration of their lifelong trade of making the Blues for whoever has ears willing to hear them play. The keyboard lines Chaz adds to the guitar wonderment are just about spot on, like pretty much the entire album, I hope no one would choose to argue that this duo are anything other than nonpareil modern Blues Makers.
Bloodline isn't about some hoity toity upper class inbreeding, this is more about passing on the magic of the music to the next generation, to allow them to enjoy the magic great music can bring into their lives. This also makes me wonder if this duo's kids are already making music or not.
Visions Of Hope does exactly what it says in the title, as a blues for a hopeful better more peaceful future where we all recycle, taking care to be kind to each other and rid the world of all the nasty lying politicians, over swampy blues, as they hope we can rid ourselves of all the greed and learn to share life's bounty more fairly.
The album closes with Time Well Spent that urges us all to lead good lives, go out and have a good time, but make sure you look after each other along the way, this grooves along as they give thanks for being able to love full long lives unlike some of their peers.
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