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DVDfever.co.uk – Dudley Taft: Left For Dead CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Dudley Taft
- Released: September 2010
- Rating: 10/10
Power Blues-Rock from Seattle. New Stevie Ray Vaughan?
Goatee-bearded Dudley Taft, 44, has learnt his trade with great observation and dedication during spells with Sweet Water and Second Coming, and its paid off handsomely.
Left For Dead is not only a showboating exercise it is jaw-droppingly awesome, particularly if like your licks with touch and finesse.In my opinion he has the touch of say Paul Kossoff / Jimmy Page and the blues sensibilities of Stevie Ray Vaughan, so that, by definition, places him in great company.
Technically, Taft is nigh on perfect. Stylistically he is mightily impressive. At no stage do get the feeling that his sojourns are gratuitous, because everything youd expect is in the right place, and time.Taft writes great originals such as thrusting opener Aint No Game which sets the tone perfectly. Skip one, and we get to Broken Down a thumping rocker with splashes of nifty brass dressing and a guitar solo thats on fire.
On Long Way Down… he opts for a more bluesy effect with sharp wiry licks, and should he choose a single to promote the album, then this is it.For Blue Lady, hes gone for a lazy template on this mid-paced ballad with very subtle solos a la Gary Moore.
In addition, he has masterfully chosen some excellent cover versions to add to his arsenal of tricks, particularly Charlie Pattons When Your Way Gets Dark, treating it with great sensitivity and respect, dropping in exquisite bottleneck and acoustic flourishes. Billy Miles Have You Ever Loved A Woman, (a slow ballad spanning over 7 minutes,) showcases his finely-honed skills, and when the laidback licks kick in, they are simply breathtaking, with his rustic voice only adding to the thrill of the listening experience.
Ex-Fleetwood Macs Peter Greens Drifting is truly dusted down and given a new lease of life, but once again, the originals sensibilities are kept intact with some dazzling solos, par excellence, with blues bassist Willie Dixons Seventh Son brought bang up-to-date (and virtually unrecognizable) in a rock format, minus the originals honky -tonk piano tinkling and rhythm and blues shuffle. Again Dixons Back Door Man is more aggressive, but sadly missing the originals harmonica breaks, though it remains a blistering cover, nevertheless.
The verdict Stunning !
RADIO: Hear Back Door Man on THE PLUG on Monday 4 October between 2-4PM (UK time) atCalonFM.com
Weblink:dudleytaft.com /myspace.com/dudleytaft
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Aint No Game
2. Back Door Man
3. Broken Down
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Left For Dead
6. When Your Way Gets Dark
7. Devils Crown
8. Long Way Down (Left For Dead Pt 11)
9. Blue Lady
10. Drifting
11. Seventh Son
12. If Youll Come Home
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.