Album Review: Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders – Word Gets Around (Rough Diamond)

0

Delaney Davidson teams up with The Warratahs’ Barry Saunders for an album full of rollicking blues-based tunes.

Delaney Davidson has been on a roll. He released his most recent solo album, Shiny Day, late last year.  Then, earlier this year can his surprising collaboration with The Dead C’s Bruce Russell. Ostensibly a tribute to rockabilly legend Charlie Feathers, it turned in to a wicked noise-fest.

Now, after touring together as part of the Church Tour a couple of years ago, Delaney and Barry Saunders have sat down and written nine tunes together.

The resulting album, Word Gets Around, was recorded by Delaney with both men playing guitars, bass and harmonica, Davidson handling the occasional keyboard part and Jol Mulholland pounding the skins.

And pound he does, beginning with the primitive beat that drives opening number Nineteen Days. It’s a bluesy stomp with Delaney and Barry’s voice joining together sounding to me like a rootsier version of Mark Olsen-era Jayhawks.

The title track follows with a jubilant “Whoah!” It’s another stomper with a loose groove that won’t let go. By the end of the track, the two musicians jam, guitars bouncing off each other.

The latest single, Stolen River, features Springsteen-like harmonica wail  as they sing about a depleted river bed. It’s very catchy…easy listening in the best sense of the word.

Delaney’s organ playing pops up during Make Your Own Luck while the harmonizing on Blues In This Room sounds like a grizzled version of The Everlys.

After the garage/blues of All Fall Down and its stinging guitar, the album closes with Barry singing the ballad, Long Way Home. Delaney joins in on harmonies as they sing, “You ramble, you roam, you leave no stone unturned…looking for a place to call home”.

This may be the first time these two recorded together, but from beginning to end, this album feels as comfy as a pair of old gumboots.

Marty Duda

Marty Duda
Latest posts by Marty Duda (see all)