Clare Free
Album: Dust And Bones
Label: Funky Mama
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.clarefree.co.uk

Having a double X chromosome has often been a disadvantage in the blues world. It means you've had to try twice as hard to get recognition as some of your XY contemporaries, though in fairness it has to be said that this scenario has improved somewhat over the last few years.

Similarly you were pretty much to use your songs to expose yourself as some sort slut before you could get any real sense of airplay for your euphemism laden tracks. Again that's something that has really began changing in the last decade or so, all of which bodes well for, "Dust And Bones", the new album from blues guitarist and songwriter, Clare Free.

That's not to say emotional issues aren't included in the songs on "Dust And Bones", of course they are, this is a blues album for Pete's sake, what they don't do is dominate. You get to appreciate the riffs and solos in the songs for what they are, to appreciate the slices of a song when the guitar is just there to support the vocals, rather than being the centre of attention all the time.

It's no coincidence that I felt myself nodding along with the album, tapping fingers and yes occasionally playing some subtle air-guitar to the more appropriate moments, just as easily as I found myself sitting in silence when a song was picking up on the more lyrical themes.

Clare Free shows herself to be a pretty mean singer/songwriter across "Dust And Bones" her chosen outlet happens to be blues, but you get the feeling she could turn her talent to anyone of a number of genres if the mood took her.

I've been enjoying the quality of British blues that have crossed my path already during 2012, "Dust And Bones" more than maintains that high standard. Fingers crossed that this album not only gets the opportunity to make its presence felt on your cd player, but also on your radio. It's been getting a lot of air time in my house and car and rightly so.

Neil King