Reviews
Artist:Durham County Poets Album: Out Of The Woods
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.durhamcountypoets.com
Emerging out of Canada a good few years ago now, the Durham County Poets are often described as 'blues based but in reality their music skates across soul, R&B, Gospel and country folk into what they rather pleasingly describe as 'Canadiana'.
Their first release, 2012's 'Where The River Flows' was a great local success, 'Chickaboodah Stew' and 'Grimshaw Road' followed in 2014 and 2017 respectively, before next album 'Hand Me Down Blues' really hit the spot to great reviews and was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Blues album of 2020.
Sadly their live shows have been in short supply over the past two pandemic years but they continued to work behind the scenes and in a hopeful nod to things looking up in the near future, the appositely titled 'Out Of The Woods' was released in May 2022.
The core band consists of Kevin Harvey, lead vocals, David Whyte, guitar, vocals, Carl Rufh, bass, vocals, Neil Elsmore, guitar, vocals and Rob Couture, drums. In addition they are accompanied across the tracks by various guests, sadly too numerous to mention by name, adding keyboards, horns, electric guitar, harmonica and more vocals to the mix.
Of the twelve songs here, eleven are originals written by various band members along with a cover of Bob Dylan's imperious 'Not Dark Yet'.
Opening track 'Working On It' jumps in fully formed, drums, horns, keys, bumping bass and sharp guitar fills all topped with Kevin Harvey's sweetly gruff vocal scatting out the smart lyrics with a hint of John Hiatt in the delivery, which is always a good thing to my ears. Fine opener indeed, with a feel and attitude that sets the bench mark for the rest of the album to follow.
Next song 'Together In The Groove' does exactly what it says on the tin and more, 'Mean Old Dog Blues' rumbles through on an archetypal John Lee Hooker type lick, Kevin Harvey shows he can testify with the best of them as he trades vocals with Karen Morand or Sonja Ball, or perhaps both, on 'Love's Got A Hold On Me', title track 'Out Of The Woods' boasts another mighty groove, but it's still not as mighty as that found in the aptly titled 'Back At The Groove Shack'.
Its safe to say the second half of the album easily matches the quality in this opening salvo of songs. Particular favourites of mine are the bumping bass and shuffle drum driven 'Good Kind Of Crazy', the bands stately, melodic version of Bob Dylan's 'Not Dark Yet' and positively jaunty, harmonica led album closer 'That's What Makes Me Smile'.
Durham County Poets have delivered a cracking album with 'Out Of The Woods', full of wonderfully tight ensemble playing, clever arrangements, strong songs, great recording values and a palpable sense of fun.
Thoroughly recommended.
Paul Jackson
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