Snowy White Blues Project - In Our Time of Living

  by Lisa Torem

published: 31 / 7 / 2009

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Review

The Inuits have hundreds of words for snow. And though I can conjure up a few as well, such as “pure, virginal and white,” these qualifiers seem incompatible with those normally free-associated with the blues –“gutsy, low-down and dirty.” But, 'In Our Time of Living' the new release created by the Snowy White Blues Project, blues stereotypes need not apply. British, self-taught lead guitarist and vocalist Snowy White has had a regal career playing with Thin Lizzy from 1979-1983, Pink Floyd 1977-1980 and more currently Roger Water’s band. His 'Bird of Paradise' effort in 1983 reached Top 10 in the UK. And, ironically enough, he actually played 'The Wall': with former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters by the remains of the legendary Berlin Wall in 1990 . But since October of last year, White has been engaged in the Snowy White Blues Project working on the band’s 13 track debut album. This CD includes many classics such as 'Good Morning Blues' (Leadbetter/Lomax) which features bold cock-a-doodle-doo riffs and casual, conversant lyrics like “good morning blues, how do you do?” and “I lay awake last night,/blues are running ‘round my head” plus “I ate my breakfast, blues is in my bread.” Another standard 'I’m Glad' (Skip James) begins with a grisly acoustic progression which is soon joined with White’s escalating vocals. “Won’t you be my darlin’, won’t you be my dear?” Though the lyrics are simple, they, due to his phrasings, slide off White’s lips - blindsided by emotion. Bassist Ruud Weber wrote 'Hot For The Money' which drives home the fact that a great blues song has to divinely tell a good story and here it clearly does. “She’s hot for the money/and I’m doin’ all I can,” the narrator explains. He continues, “I ain’t got that kind of money, Lord, I’m just a simple man.” And in-between crisp notes bleed into blues notes. Finally, though down-heartedly defeated, the narrator concedes, “And it won’t be too long/before I have to let her go.” Another written by Weber, 'I Still See You' has a spine-tingling inception and gravitates toward the instrumental orbit of British guitarist Robin Trower and American Johnny Winter. “I still see you crying behind that window as I drive away for the last time/We were young and foolish/and that’s not the way things go.” While 'Simple' -also penned by Weber- abandons love lost and detonates hope. “Ain’t it peculiar when you look around/there’s so many people bringing each other down/The man on the corner is holding out his hand/we pretend not to notice…” The chorus provides the answers: “It’s all so simple/all you really have to do/we’ve got to share a little love and understanding/it’s up to me and you.” 'One Way Ticket' written by White has the tenacity of a sixteen-wheel truck battling rush-hour gridlock. White wails, “Look over my shoulder/ that was a hell of a ride” and “look in the mirror behind the reflection/see the bridges burning down.” It entrails of acid-rock fused with Texas blues. Three additional originals by White deserve mention. 'Rolling With My Baby' employs a riveting guitar solo drenched with harmonies which sustain, “when I’m rolling with my baby, everything’s gonna be all right.” 'Lonely Man Blues' recalls Chicago-style edge and White’s voice heralds a raw, scrape- your- plate gut-wrench. Snowy spills, “I lie awake last night tossing from side to side.” 'Red Wine Blues' is a reflective ode to a far-away lover that lauds a gripping introduction. 'I Want to Thank You' written by guitarist Mick Taylor starts with a glorious ostinato which parallels in bright intensity these doubts, “can’t seem to make it/can’t seem to shake it down.” But, the insecurities unravel in this verse: “I want to thank you for opening my eyes/I wasted so much time/I want to thank you for standing aside/you’ve been on a bumpy ride." All in all, this combination of original and classic tunes, solid vocals and a wide berth of instrumental expertise intercept creating enough swirls of frost and powdery flakes to command an outright blizzard.

Track Listing:-

1 Rolling With My Baby
2 Good Morning Blues
3 Lonely Man Blues
4 In Our Time Of Living
5 Blue To The Bone
6 Red Wine Blues
7 I Aint No Doctor
8 I Still See You
9 Hot For The Money
10 Im So Glad
11 One Way Ticket
12 Simple
13 I Want To Thank You