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The compositions give themselves enough space for solo excursions and Morbioli has a slightly hoarse voice, which of course fits well with the music.
Diego Pozzan is not only on his drum kit, but also knows how to refine the rhythm with various percussive additions.
The choruses are terrific.
At first, you could bet that it is Morblus musicians who provide the great backing vocals, but in "What's It To You" at the latest, women are definitely singing along. One singer has real soul/gospel in her voice, making the song a high-flyer.
Oh man, this Hammond is really used brilliantly and Scala shows off the organ in a great display. Bassist Stefano Dalla Porta plucks more than solidly and the band draws on the full range of blues. The instrumental "Lump-Sugar" is a driving piece with jump blues display and even in the slow songs they deliver convincing 12-bar fare.
The title track is really loose and it rocks hard. Up to this point, Morblus leaves nothing to be desired, especially since Morbioli gives his guitar various sound effects and these are not only achieved by the wah wah pedal.
The group has a great drive and convinces with its independence.
A change of tool from electric guitar to dobro and sliding this too brings other blues colors into play. With another instrumental ("Guitars' Talking") they switch to a jazzy flair and it grooves like crazy. Here again, it's the hand drums that create additional atmosphere. Great!
It can also be done acoustically: "Pappy's Words" is a wonderfully airy soul affair and there they are again... the ladies on the vocal microphone mentioned above. Scala almost takes a break here. He simply weaves a very delicate sound carpet.
With the cover versions, Morblus is not in the top 10 of the blues charts. After a good hour, it is clear that the Italians are really not wrong and have put on a very entertaining foray into the 12-bar: "I Can't Be Wrong"!
The ingredients are right, have been mixed well and are sure to please.
To return to the introduction, I can only write: More Blues...
320 kbps
120 Megabytes
Credits:
Roberto Morbioli - Vocals, Guitar
Daniele Scala - Hammond, Piano, Fender Rhodes
Paolo Legramandi - Bass, Backing Vocals
Marco Sacchitella - Drums
Tracklist:
01. Jungle Night 04:31
02. I Play The Blues 04:51
03. What's It For You 03:50
04. Man Of Snow 04:35
05. Lump-Sugar 02:43
06. I Can't Go Wrong 04:57
07. I've Been A Fool 04:52
08. Better Half Of Me 04:16
09. Guitars' Talking 04:16
10. Pappy's Words 04:10
11. They Ain't Got What I Got 03:11
12. Sufferin' 06:19)
13. Funky Party 04:52
14. Walkin' Thu The Dark 04:52
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Back in June I had the good fortune of talking with Warren Haynes about his prolific symphony tour. He was about to go on the road with Slash, too, so he had a lot of cool things going on. But what he was most excited about was the Nov. 1 release of his first solo album in 9 years, Million Voices Whisper on Fantasy Records.
Warren told me this summer Millions Voices Whisper started with a Muscle Shoals sort of vibe but “it kind of goes all over the place,” which isn’t unusual for Warren, a guitar legend synonymous with iconic bands such as The Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, and the co-founder of jam masters Gov’t Mule.
“All over the place” sums up this album quite well, actually. Voices defies any kind of labeling. It’s got some long jams but isn’t a jam record. It’s not a blues record, or a soul album, but it gives you all of this and more. If anything, it’s a modern gospel album. Warren and his new band (John Medeski on keys, Greg Osby on saxophone, Terrence Higgins on drums and his Gov’t Mule bandmate Kevin Scott on bass) take you to church over and over again.
Voices is one of Warren’s most expressive, emotional albums. You feel it in the playing as much as you do in the lyrics. It’s the total package, starting with “These Changes,” an Allman Brothers style jammer co-written by Derek Trucks (Yeah, that’s him on slide, bringing some Soul Serenade with him). Everyone is locked in, and are celebrating life together. It’s joyous, raw-yet-polished, and real.
The Muscle Shoals vibe really comes to life on “Go Down Swinging.” It’s an irresistible combination of blues and soul, and one of the happiest songs I’ve heard about resilience. “You Ain’t Above Me” has some signature B.B. King guitar licks throughout on top of a bluesy gospel arrangement really brought home by Medeski and Scott. The band couldn’t compliment each other – or the song – any better (love Scott’s sliding line at the end). The song was co-written by Jamey Johnson, who you’ll hear more about later.
“This Life As We Know It” is the kind of anthem we can all use right now. It’s hopeful and all about embracing change, plus it’s catchy as hell. Warren’s vocal take is amazing here. On every track there’s a moment where I think, “I see why he’s so excited to share this album with us.” Every song is inspired, because Warren feels blessed. When shit shut down in 2020, as we navigated the pandemic, it was hard for Warren and his giant family of musicians. He’s grateful for every gig, and every minute in the studio. He knows how lucky he is and he shows it with every word and every note. As Santana once said, each song “is an offering.” It really feels that way. I encourage you to let this song (and album) fill you with gratitude. Put it on as you start the day and see if it changes your mood.
Still, it can be hard to be grateful when the nation is a mess. “Day of Reckoning” is a call for action with special guests Jamey Johnson and Lukas Nelson (who co-wrote it). The tune is a timely nod to Vietnam-era protests (and has a tasteful Buffalo Springfield feel). It’s a call to arms, a rallying cry. It’s also where the album gets its name: “Million voices whisper, getting louder when they sing / Million spirits waiting on a day of reckoning.” The song builds into a fiery gospel track (I was half-expecting Mavis Staples to show up). It’s cool to hear these guys together, and they thought so, too, after collaborating on a “Last Waltz” tribute a few years back.
“Real, real love” was co-written by the late Greg Allman, and fittingly reminds me of Gregg’s solo album, Laid Back. It’s a nice change of pace here, a slow dance – and Derek plays his best slide.
Let’s get funky now. The band gets right back to jamming with “Lies, Lies, Lies >Monkey Dance>Lies, Lies, Lies.” Scott shines on bass, sounding like Jaco Pastorius. It’s the wildest jam track on the album, right up there with “Terrified,” where It’s as Warren said – all over the place. And in the best kind of way. Medeski is magnificent on organ, and is a huge part of the Zeppelin energy that transpires.
Voices might be a solo record, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. It’s a killer band having a blast, and they can’t wait for you to join the party.
Million Voices Whisper was produced by Warren Haynes (with a few tracks co-produced by Trucks, who also co-wrote “Hall of Future Saints,” a fun track that pays tribute to a wide variety of icons, especially Ray Charles). It was recorded by Evan Bakke at Power Station New England. Trevor Okonuk was an assistant engineer. It was mixed by John Paterno and mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound. The album is dedicated to Allman Brothers co-founder Dickey Betts, who left us on April 18.
320 kbps
156 Megabytes
Credits:
Warren Haynes - Vocals, Guitar
Terence Higgins - Drums
John Medeski - Organ, Keyboard
Kevin Scott - Bass
Derek Trucks - Guitar
Greg Osby - Sax
Tracklist:
01. These Changes 06:36
02. Go Down Swinging 06:16
03. You Ain't Above Me 04:37
04. This Life As We Know It 04:32
05. Day of Reckoning 04:26
06. Real, Real Love 06:04
07. Lies, Lies, Lies - Monkey Dance - Lies, Lies, Lies 08:33
08. From Here On Out 06:31
09. Till the Sun Comes Shining Through 05:19
10. Terrified 06:46
11. Hall of Future Saints 09:23
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