Matt Woosey Band
Album: On The Waggon
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.mattwoosey.co.uk/

First of all let me declare an interest. The first time I heard Matt Woosey was on a recommendation from one of the other Fatea writers, John Hawes. Not long after that, I met the man himself on a purely by chance meeting at Cambridge Folk Festival and before we knew it, we'd agreed to have a track, "Cruel Disposition" on the Fatea Showcase Session Autumn 2011 release, "Interactions".

Spin forward eighteen months and nearly a couple of hundred gigs and we come to on "On The Waggon" Matt's latest studio album and by crickey it's an absolute cracker. "Cruel Disposition" is still there, neatly honed, but just as raw just as vibrant and with a full album, he gets to showcase the full range of blues that he's capable of bending his guitar around.

Along with Jim 'E' Williams(percussion) and Adji Shuib(bass) Woosey explores both the soulful and skiffle side of blues, with a few other sounds thrown into the mix, just to make sure that you can't tie him down to a solo part of the genre, whilst being able to throw adjectives at him like they are going out of fashion.

If and it's a big if, there's a consistency across the recordings, apart from the exceptional quality, it's a harsh, road hardened edge, abrasive and likely to cause cuts and scratches should you rub up against it.

This is more than brought out in the vocal, soulful and cynical, the voice of a man used to picking himself up and getting on with it. Similarly whilst the songs cover a lot of traditional blues fare, travel, women, drink and more of the same you never feel anything tired or clichéd, this is well thought out lyricism.

As you can tell I like this a lot, there is so much here for everyone from the blues affectionardo to the casual listener, prepare to be moved, prepare to be entertained.

Neil King