Andy
Cowan sings and plays like he's been here forever. His voice rasps
with the sound of years in smoky bars and clubs. His songs and style
reach back into very heart of the blues and soul. Despite the didgeridoo
on 'Voodoo Kind' and other hints of Cowan's Australian background
it's just easy to imagine him on stage in Memphis or New Orleans.
A relatively late "bloomer" for a lot of years Andy was a gun for
hire, playing the keyboards behind others, but in 1999 he finally
stepped out of the shadows with his first solo album. In essence
Andy sits at the piano, pouring his world-weary soul into his music,
as in the pleading plaintive 'Sweet Release.' But most of the time
he's not alone. He's surrounded by musicians and singers. He's as
much Boz Scaggs and Dr.John as he is Tom Waits. The arrangements
bristle with life. He's here to entertain as much as he is to pour
out his emotions. The big thing about this fourth album is that
Cowan has written all the songs, and is very much in charge of all
the sounds around him. Whether it be wailing guitar, or pulsing
horns, or sweet backing vocals, everything is in place for the sake
of a total performance, pushing Cowan's blues into a variety of
directions. This is a very entertaining record. Cowan shows himself
to be great songwriter and musician. But in the end it's about that
soulfully emotional voice at the keyboards, and lyrics that speak
of a life filled with experience.
Andy
Cowan sings and plays like he's been here forever. His voice rasps
with the sound of years in smoky bars and clubs. His songs and style
reach back into very heart of the blues and soul. Despite the didgeridoo
on 'Voodoo Kind' and other hints of Cowan's Australian background
it's just easy to imagine him on stage in Memphis or New Orleans.
A relatively late "bloomer" for a lot of years Andy was a gun for
hire, playing the keyboards behind others, but in 1999 he finally
stepped out of the shadows with his first solo album. In essence
Andy sits at the piano, pouring his world-weary soul into his music,
as in the pleading plaintive 'Sweet Release.' But most of the time
he's not alone. He's surrounded by musicians and singers. He's as
much Boz Scaggs and Dr.John as he is Tom Waits. The arrangements
bristle with life. He's here to entertain as much as he is to pour
out his emotions. The big thing about this fourth album is that
Cowan has written all the songs, and is very much in charge of all
the sounds around him. Whether it be wailing guitar, or pulsing
horns, or sweet backing vocals, everything is in place for the sake
of a total performance, pushing Cowan's blues into a variety of
directions. This is a very entertaining record. Cowan shows himself
to be great songwriter and musician. But in the end it's about that
soulfully emotional voice at the keyboards, and lyrics that speak
of a life filled with experience.