Luke Winslow-King – Coast of Light
This is a curious, soulful set of music that untangles tightly from a heavy groove beginning with “Dangerous Blues.” A plodding beat, effectively snazzy & competent. Originally from Michigan & now based in Spain — King sings with a predatory tone counterbalanced by good inflection on choice words.
Not your Motown-type soul but something weaved between Muscle Shoals R&B with shards of Texas & Chicago blues. It continues with a bit of an Angelo Bond-near falsetto fixation layered with occasional upbeat bursts. Makes “Teacher’s Desk” propel. The tunes are assertive & wonderfully streamlined – no overdone arrangement with urgency in the beat but more of a rock infusion with a James Walsh-type guitar punctuation. Tasty.
These 2 songs are on the horizon of the 11 clouds that can be seen on the Coast of Light (Drops March 26/Bloodshot Records/42:48). Produced by Luke with Roberto Luti (lead guitar) & recorded in Livorno, Italy. Don’t laugh, Eugenio Finardi’s brilliant Anima Blues album — a hit in Texas — was recorded in Milan, Italy.
Winslow-King’s gritty approach (not quite Finardi) is reliant on his predatory blues style, refreshing. One misstep on an otherwise good performance is “Shoot From the Hip,” which purists will find resembles parts of The Allman Brothers’ classic “Whipping Post.” No matter, the tune is like a condensed version cleverly rewritten. The 2nd misstep may be “Destiny,” since it’s loaded with lyrical cliches, rhyme upon rhyme, which dilutes his blues spirit & renders the song a likable pop-blues (pop-blues? That’s a new one).
If Italians are involved musically, expect tinkering with the recipe that often provides brilliant originality, American musicians may not consider. Finardi’s English lyric Chuck Berry-oriented blues-rock “Corrina, Corrina” doesn’t solo with a guitar but a clarinet.
By cut 5, Luke rocks fashionably with “Don’t Worry Your Mind,” & captures the Robert Johnson essence of American blues wonderfully & redeems himself instantly. Organ swish dipped in stinging lead guitar provokes with enticing notes. Vocally, Luke is in a Robert Palmer gear. Cool, collected & calm with all the sassy intonation of confidence.
Through these songs, Luke (guitar/percussion) touches on love, loss, hope & transformation with varied tendrils of approach. Keeps his age-old style fresh with individuality. “Coast of Light” is a cool ballad sung with tenderness & deepness close to the rich sound of Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler crossed with the Flamenco-hues of the late Willy DeVille.
A wholly gratifying, entertaining & enlightening set of songs superior to many issued en masse in America.
Highlights – “Dangerous Blues,” “Teacher’s Desk,” “Shoot From the Hip,” “Don’t Worry Your Mind,” “Coast of Light,” & “Lotus Blossom.”
Musicians – Simone Luti (bass), Nicola Venturini (organ/piano/Fender Rhodes/drums), Giacomo Riggi (mallet percussion) & Piero Perelli (drums/congas).
An 8pp stitched lyric insert is included. Color image from Luke’s Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp + Apple & https://lukewinslowking.com/
Enjoy our interview here: Interview: Luke Winslow-King Talks About His Music and His New Album “Coast Of Light”