Forsaking Nashville for the first time,TOWNES VAN ZANDT travelled to Century Sound Studios in New York City to cut his fourth album with experienced folk music producer Ron Frangipane (see JANIS IAN's catalogue) and enginer Brooks Arthur.
The results show it to have been an inspired move. Surely the dark horse in TOWNES' paddock, "Delta Momma Blues" contains half a dozen of his finest compositions and runs together beautifully in tandem with Frangipane's sympathetic production. Best of all, despite TOWNES' rep for wild alcoholism and wayward living, he (gasp!) sounds like he's enjoying himself!
The great thing about "Delta Momma Blues" is the way it builds. Kicking off with a cover of the "singing brakeman" Jimmie Rodgers great railroad disaster song "F.F.V", TOWNES eases us into his world with a slew of gentle folk'n'bluegrass-inflected songs, like "Delta Momma Blues" itself and the amusing,resigned love song "Turnstyled,Junkpiled".
So far so pleasant, then. Come track 5, though,VAN ZANDT kicks up a gear into "essential" mode with the exquisite "Tower Song", where he explores the transitory nature of love and life over gorgeous ringing chords. This being TOWNES, of course, the ending is the inevitable "towers built strong and tall must fall someday." To compound the heartbreak, he follows up with another mid-pace ballad "Come Tomorrow" that's every bit "Tower Song"s equal.
Just to ensure we don't get too complacent, though, "Brand New Companion" pays homage to one of TOWNES' youthful heroes,LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS, with its' bluesy guitar licks and wailing harp. Gradually a rhythm section make themselves heard and the whole thing is very satisfying indeed. To trump this, we then get "Where I Lead Me", TOWNES tough and riffing Keef-style over a typical tale of ramblin' and hard livin' that would delight RYAN ADAMS.
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Naturally, he keeps a couple of killers in reserve to bow out. The melancholy "Rake" is classic VAN ZANDT; a folky celebration of hedonistic days with fiery lyrics akin to the best of "Our Mother The Mountain", blessed with swooping strings that wouldn't be out of place on "Scott 4". Just to kick us when he's down, his parting shot is "Nothin",Mr.T at his stark, nihilistic best, picking at a skeletal acoustic and really not giving a shit as she goes out the door - again. Compared to the gentle caress of "None But The Rain" from the previous album, it's spine-chilling. Numbing.
Yet despite this late kick in the head, "Delta Momma Blues" is one finely-crafted forty minutes that begs you to return to its' source over and again. Believe me. it's well worth capitulating.
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