MICK SIMPSON
Hard Road
Livewire Records
Mick Simpson is a name that will be new to many music lovers yet they will all have heard some of his playing. As a session musician he was asked by Elkie Brooks to play guitar in Vinegar Joe. Tommy Vance had him play some of the original instrumental tracks on his Friday Night Rock Show. He has had tracks used in films by Schwarzenegger and Tom Selleck, toured with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and more. He guested at BB King’s 80th birthday at his Blues bar in New York and played with Gary Moore & Snowy White, an impressive CV for an unknown. Listening to “Hard Road”, I get the impression that he is ready to make a lasting and contributive solo statement. Consisting of 14 quality original tracks, written with keyboard player and producer Andy Littlewood, the songs explore melody and at times tug at the heart strings. ‘A Father’s Son’ sounds much influenced by Gary Moore’s ‘Still In Love With You’, the guitar tone replicating that aching tone of Moore’s. It would be unfair however to compare him to any one guitarist as his style, sound and particularly his fills are original and in some cases breathtaking. He can solo with the best but the wealth lies in some of the understated playing behind the vocals. Styles vary from a straight acoustic Blues in ‘Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl’ with amazing finger runs on the fret board, the soulful slow Blues of ‘Somewhere Down The Line’, a ZZ Top style boogie in ‘Green Light’. There is even a nod to the power ballad in ‘Looking Through My Eyes’ and of course the title track ‘Hard Road’, a hard hitting, solid Blues/Rocker with some great flowing guitar playing. ‘Walking Back To India’, which I believe has been issued as a single with differing mixes, segues east with west as distorted guitar and sitar meet. I look forward to more from Mr. Simpson.
Merv Osborne