A smoky and seductive voice snakes its way through an opaque landscape of sound. The musicianship is top notch and there's instruments all over in some of these songs, expertly placed to make the most of the tracks. Even so, Powers' vocal is the star of the show. This stuff is timeless. I could be sitting in a cloudy bar in
some southern town years upon years ago, or listening in my favorite local room
in town last night, Kerri Powers music spans time, space, and generations. I am
confused, I am not really sure if I can and should call her voice pretty or if
I should call it powerful, I guess we can just settle on passionate. She exudes
it in every line and note. Let’s leave it at “it’s just soul driven, good music”.
Standout tracks
Buttercup has a nice driving force behind it with a wirey
slide guitar and a killer groove. Delta blues, swamp and cigarette ash. Powers
voice hurdles from strained and sexy to pure and somewhat reserved. A delicate
balance between a force of nature and refine beauty. Truly impressive.
Old Shirt is driven by a harmonica part, as some blues just
plain should be. It’s a bit subdued but adds a real nice balance to the
previous track. I think that’s an important part of this work, the balance and
the poise that Powers puts forth, showing her versatility as a performer and
songwriter.
Tallulah Send A Car for Me has a playful picked line leading
it. A story song, repetition, and standing true to blues fashion that came
before. She adds her own flavor to the arrangements. Just a great song, sure to
become a classic or a favorite in your rotation.
Kerri Powers sings with a fire deep in her belly and a burning in
her soul. She is fierce, she is raw, but somehow it’s all so well put together
and eloquent. I am not sure how she does that, but this stuff is straight raw
unrefined and unapologetic emotion spread across absolutely divine
instrumentation (another Dirt Floor masterpiece). The blues runs deep and red
in this gals veins. She can tell she has been around the block, seen a few
things in her day, and she forces that intensity and endurance deep into her
music.
http://kerripowers.bandcamp.com/
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