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Mick Clarke - The Rambunctious Blues Experiment

Rockfold RF010

http://www.mickclarke.com

12 songs; 50:14 minutes

Styles: Modern Electric Blues Rock

According to the scientific method, there are five parts to any experiment: a hypothesis, prediction, independent variable, dependent variable, and conclusion. What would a “blues experiment” look like? Let’s try one on a British veteran Mick Clarke and “The Rambunctious Blues Experiment,” released in 2011. Hypothesis: This album will be entertaining to fans of blues and blues rock, whatever their geographical location. Prediction: The hypothesis will be soundly proven. Independent variable: Clarke presents twelve original songs, each with their own distinct properties. Dependent variable: The factor being measured here, entertainment value, is highly subjective and relies upon the personal preferences of each listener. Taking a look at three particular songs, we can clearly gauge the musical expertise of Clarke, Dangerous Dave Newman on harmonica, and Russell Chaney on drums (additional bass, keyboards, and drums were programmed by Mick Clarke):

Track 01: “Cheap”-- “Some people like to brag a lot at the expense of blues they got. Cheap don’t worry me. I am looking at love--I ain’t worried about the quality….” Right from the start, Clarke lays his objective on the line. One could easily substitute another word for “love” and realize the true nature of for what he’s searching, but certain down-and-outers can relate. Clarke’s gruff vocals are spoken-sung (throughout the CD), so the guitar hook on this song is its catchiest feature that will stick in fans’ heads whether they consider themselves “Cheap” or not!

Track 02: “Poor Day”--Continuing the theme of monetary difficulty is the second track on this album, a stunning piece of slow blues: “I ain’t got time to talk with you. Money’s tight; I’ve got things to do. It’s going to be a poor day, poor day, and that’s no lie.” One gets the feeling that Mick doesn’t only mean “poor” in a financial sense. Dangerous Dave Newman’s harmonica wails in distress, adding emphasis to the gritty guitar solo in the middle.

Track 11: “I Should’ve Waited”--Sometimes, people’s mouths kick into high gear before their brain shifts into first. The result is the subject of this rueful ballad: “I should have stood back and hung around--shouldn’t have let my fool self down!” Our narrator leaves it up to blues fans to imagine the situation (bar fight? Lovers’ quarrel? Mouthing off to the boss? All of the above?) Regardless, he gives us a playful reminder that it’s better to engage one’s mental processes before the vocal ones.

In the CD liner notes, Clarke comments: “The tracks were not only recorded first take, there was also no rehearsal at all, minimal discussion as to what we were about to play, and some of the songs were written actually as they recorded.” This is a startling revelation, proving our original hypothesis: “The Rambunctious Blues Experiment” is a success worth more than one listen!

Reviewer Rainey Wetnight is a 32 year old female Blues fan. She brings the perspective of a younger blues fan to reviews. A child of 1980s music, she was strongly influenced by her father’s blues music collection.

 

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