Provogue [Release date 25.03.16]

Having settled for ‘Blues Of Desperation’ rather than ‘Blues and Desperation’, Joe Bonamassa transforms the inherent edge of his album title into a powerhouse record that showcases some of his best recorded moments in recent times.

He actually saves his most climactic solo to rescue the overwrought blues ballad ‘No Good Place For The Lonely’, which overcomes a horrible synth fill and overbearing faux strings to achieve an unlikely triumph.

‘Blues Of Desperation’ lives up to its name in a positive way, as it sounds like the work of a performer taken out of his comfort zone and pushed to a new high.

The album reinforces Joe’s own style through self penned songs, while harnessing some of his most fiery solos in recent times. As a guitarist, Joe proudly stands at the top of his own mountain to survey the great beyond, while refusing to believe that’s all there is.

Recorded as a power quartet (although there are some significant keyboard parts), the main inspiration behind the album appears to be producer Kevin Shirley’s fascination with Led Zeppelin style bombast. To that end he’s recruited a second drummer Greg Morrow and added bv’s to smooth out the jagged edges.

Look no further than the bone crunching riffs of ‘Mountain Climbing’ as the first of several examples of a flashback to the early 70’s, though newer fans will doubtless rejoice in Joe’s fiery attack, as his solo slashes through the enveloping backing track.

Leading into this album Joe says he wanted to do explore new horizons in the blues. And he does so, on an album that tempers a big shoulders rock approach with heartfelt blues sensibilities.

The opening ‘This Train’ uses the first of two familiar train metaphors, the former being a slide-led opus on which he pushes his vocal to the limit to bring gravitas to some workaday lyrics, as his incendiary soloing seals the deal. ‘Distant Lonesome Train’ employs a pungent drum pattern, before he stretches out in a stellar display of guitar mastery, nailed by big wall of sound and stereo panning.

He digs deep for the equally intense and suitably titled ‘How Deep This River Runs’, with a coruscating solo that reflects the depths of the ensemble playing.

The sourly titled ‘You Left Me Nothin’ But The Bill And The Blues’ actually gives the album a lift, via a tension building piano-led bridge, which is resolved by two succinct solos with a gnawing tone.

Since becoming a national Top 10 chart topper with ‘Sloe Gin’, Joe has been treading a delicate line between staying innovative, while satisfying fans expectations.

He’s also become a barometer for just how far a blues rock artist can go while staying loyal to his blues calling. In that context, the title track answers a lot of questions, with its bold sonic experimentation, wild slide guitar and additional Zeppelin thrust.

But producer Shirley knows his pupil well, as half way through the song Joe’s solo takes off like a jet plane in a blaze of heavy guitar-driven intensity over deft electronics and an eerie drop down.

The sultry groove and filmic tremolo motif of ‘Drive’ emphasises the album’s light and shade and essential flow, while also showcasing the more reflective side of Joe’s song writing. The similarly soulful ‘The Valley Runs Low’ is Glen Clarke/Delbert McClinton territory, with one eye on the radio, while he leans into the late night horn-led acoustic groove of Livin’ Easy.’

The album is book ended by the horn-led slow blues and suitably titled ‘What I’ve Known For A Very Long Time’ which from a subjective viewpoint could be interpreted as an acknowledgement of Bonamassa’s mastery of the blues.

He may never be the kind of vocalist or lyricist who readily lays bare his true emotions, but his guitar playing comes from the deepest of places that only a blues artist could hope to discover. ****½

Review by Pete Feenstra

Pete Feenstra presents his Rock & Blues Show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Tuesday at 19:00 GMT, and “The Pete Feenstra Feature” on Sundays at 20:00

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

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