Steve Logan
Album: Deliverance
Label: Moon Dragon
Tracks: 11
Website: www.stevelogan.co.uk

Thanks to the magical world of film, the word 'deliverance' conjures up all sorts of images, some less salubrious than others, yet the overriding one is the famous banjo duel. No real connection with Steve Logan, though. Just saying, as his brand of country folk cum rock is a long way from that image so count your blessings.

The Welsh singer songwriter's early days were influenced by the classic rock of Free together with their more gentle acoustic moments. Inevitably leading to Led Zeppelin and other bands of the era, he's certainly grounded in classic rock with a philosophy of what he calls being 'a poet and a dreamer'. He's paid his dues too; pubs, clubs, busking, bands and solo. No reality show stardom, just playing live reality instead. His first album, 'Signs And Wonders' appeared in 2014; a raw and live sounding album, too stripped back for some, was followed by Cambridge Rock Festival appearances and he's now back with a full band album.

Again, keeping recording takes to a minimum, each vocal being a single take, it finds him exploring his range in a set of rockers and country styled acoustic ballads. The mid paced title track with lo fi fuzzy distorted guitar makes it clear that Steve's a classic rocker at heart and owes more than a debt to another of his heroes Neil Young, whose stamp is all over the track in style and content. A recipe which is well used with a few tweaks and twists in 'Didn't Even Listen To Myself' and 'Small Town Blues' which are dotted amongst the eleven tracks and probably indicative of what he does best.

From there, the acoustic guitar makes a healthy appearance and the shift in direction gives a chance to pay more attention to the lyrical content in which he takes pride. There's nothing particularly prophetic or deep and meaningful but his love for poetry means he's great at coming up with lyrical rhythms and rhymes. Amidst them, there's some nice guitar dotted in here and there but you get the feeling that the engine is running out of steam a bit and the material starts to drag a bit so that by the time you reach 'Real Thing' - quite a decent album closer actually - you may have become a little nonplussed.

Granted, he deserves credit for not overdoing the vocal takes, yet there's the odd moment where the vocal finish may have benefitted from a little tweaking. Suppose you could say the same about Neil Young, but then again, Steve Logan isn't a multi-million grossing rock star who can do whatever he likes, although his music is definitely on his own terms. What you get is what you'd hear if you were in the same room at a live performance so for that reason it's commendable. Next time though Steve, less spit, more polish.

Mike Ainscoe