Larry Miller
Album: On The Edge
Label: Big Guitar
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.larrymiller.co.uk

Larry Miller is something of a phenomenon. He has been described as "The UK's Stevie Ray Vaughan" [Mojo] ; a "Sensational Rock Blues Guitarist "[Guitar World USA ] and as having "Fabulous Finesse and Feel" [Guitar Techniques UK]. As well as SRV, he has been mentioned in the same breath as Rory Gallagher [Larry's inspiration], Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout. Exalted company indeed.

Larry has a fearsome reputation for his incendiary live playing and showmanship. According to legend, he played seven encores at the 2009 Cambridge Rock Festival and he returned in 2010 to a standing ovation.

Larry's" lightbulb moment" came when he saw the late, great Rory Gallagher play live. From that moment, Larry decided that, like Rory, he wanted to lead his own band, do all the writing, singing, production and lead playing and that is what he does. His new album "On TheEdge " is his seventh, the first, " Larryocaster " having been released in 1997.

That's the build-up/background. Does this album live up to it? The answer is "Yes". This is an excellent blues-rock album. It does, of course, feature plenty of Larry's renowned guitar pyrotechnics backed up by a powerful, driving rhythm section and occasional keyboards. But there is more to it than that . Larry is a fine songwriter and singer. Commendably, he does not sing in a fake American accent as some British bluesers are apt to do.

Whilst there is a fair helping of powerful blues-rock, there are some lighter moments as well. For example, the melodic two-parter "The Wrong Name" has a similar feel to Gary Moore's "Parisian Walkways".

"The Devil's In The Detail" starts off with acoustic guitar before going electric and reminds me of the early work of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac.

"When The Bluesman Walked The Earth " is an interesting track, as it begins like a crackly, vintage, country blues 78 rpm record before morphing into a fine song.

This is a very good record played with passion, vigour and great style. If you like the aforementioned Stevie /Rory/Gary, you will, almost certainly like this record. I suspect that his live shows are even better.

Peter Cowley