Dave Fields [Released 01.07.14]
Dave Fields is a fieryNew York guitarist who bristles with confidence, verve and a great tone. ‘All In’ is an album that will doubtless please guitar freaks, but his material lacks sufficient depth to break out of that niche market.
It’s a well played rocking blues album with a psychedelic edge, explored over 11 tracks. 3 were cut live at Al Weber’s, one was recorded live in Norway and the rest are studio efforts on which the lyrics or melodies are not quite strong enough to stand out in a crowded market place.
The biggest problem with the album is that it’s simply too derivative, from the opening ‘Changes In My life’ onwards. The latter is an edgy ‘live in the studio’ rocker that is lyrically and sonically influenced by Philip Sayce, especially the distorted tone on the solo. The more succinct and funky ‘Voodoo Eyes’ grows on you with repeated plays as he sings: “I’m in a supernatural conference call”.
But rather than building on the impressive opening, the album loses its way on an up tempo dance number ‘Let’s Go Downtown’, which apart from the burgeoning guitar solo, is in sharp contrast to its lyrical refrain: “Let’s got downtown where they play the blues.”
Things get more eclectic on the delicate opening guitar line and surreal lyrical imagery of ‘Dragonfly’ but it doesn’t quite enthral us with what his PR calls its ‘layers of reality’. You could argue that he’s searching for something different, as evidenced by the grunge like, wild distorted slide break on a cover of ‘Crossroads’, but you have to do more than add an additional 3 and a half lines of verse, over Kenny Soule’s pounding drum pattern to make a convincing splash.
‘Wake Up Jasper’ has echoes of Elmore James and the funky live in Norway cover of Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog’ features a belated change of tone on the solo as part of an arrangement well suited to his underrated vocals.
For the rest, there’s plenty of full blown soloing on functional material, with an unexpected acoustic finger clicking slice of cool on ‘Lover’s Holiday’, with an Eagles influenced hook.
‘All In’ smoulders with the potential of the first two tracks and intermittently sparkles with ripping solos, but ultimately it’s an album in search of stronger material and possibly a spare pair of ears to help with the flow and direction. ***
Review By Pete Feenstra
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
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 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
