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Apart from the one solo piece, the classic ‘Fishing Blues’, this is an album set around a strong rhythm backing, plenty of fine guitar playing – including brother Malcolm – and thoughtful arrangements, without it being a guitar festival.
The songs are mainly Graham’s own, taking that difficult route of choosing from the mountain of Delta Blues and branching out into the world of the singer/songwriter. After showing his musical intentions on a solid opener, Willie Dixon’s ‘Back Door Man’, Graham Steps up with a nice Caribbean feel to collaboration with fellow Brett Marvin band mate, pianist Taffy Davies, as they travel on down to the beach to watch their mermaid ‘Walk on Water’.
Later the writing returns to more modern concern, the damage caused by the sun, on ‘Wrinkled Skin’. Slide quality is to the fore with a melodic instrumental, ‘Thank God For The Wheel’, before Graham goes back to those early Brett Marvin days as he and Taffy revisit that early arrangement of Skip James’ ‘If You Haven’t Any Hay’.
Their roots are well and truly revisited with a nostalgic look at their ‘home from home’ (Down At The Waiting Rooms) – the Waiting Rooms venue in Palmers Green. Excellent return.
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