AYNSLEY LISTER
Aynsley Lister is a British Blues Rock Artist I have heard of before but, true to form, I still haven't heard more than a few tracks. Amazingly, 'Home' is his tenth album since 1998 and the quality of it proves once and for all that I need to get a grip and start listening to more music from this genre because I really do appear to be missing out. Lister has been playing since the age of eight and used to copy his favourite artists’ solos, so great thanks must be given to the likes of Peter Green, Eric Clapton and Paul Kossoff for inspiring this fabulous guitarist and singer. This is a gentleman who can wring tears of sadness and joy out of his instrument and it is a pleasure, in this day and age of ultra-technical and fast playing, that this style of emotional guitar work is still so prevalent. He has supported the likes of Robert Cray, Walter Trout, John Mayall and Lynyrd Skynyrd as well as playing many of his own gigs and this has cemented a loyal and continually growing fanbase.
On 'Home', Lister is joined by André Bassing (keyboards), Steve Amadeo (bass) and Wayne Proctor (drums & percussion) and it has been brilliantly produced by Lister and Proctor. Together, the four of them have delivered an album of blues rock with elements of pop and soul that really sees some serious sparks fly. 'Home' kicks off with the six and a half minute title track, not one of the rockiest tracks on offer, but a belter all the same, with Lister's excellent voice sounding very like Thunder's Danny Bowes. This is followed by 'Broke', a much more upbeat song which has a Roachford feel (remember them?) and would definitely bother the charts if the charts were still relevant and included anything decent these days! A further ten tracks of excellence follow, with the only slight dip being a cover version of the Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse penned classic 'Feeling Good', which is musically spot on but vocally doesn't match up to the well-known 1965 Nina Simone version, probably only because I've heard that so much.
This is an intelligent and mature release from a real talent that, with any luck, should see Aynsley Lister establish himself as a forerunner in the blues genre but it is also an album that should appeal to a much wider audience. Get in your car, wind the windows down, put this on the stereo and by journey's end you won't be able to get the smile off your face! I would also suggest going to see him live when he tours in the autumn to promote the album. I know I'll be there because I just have a feeling it's going to be great. As the man himself says "Music is a release for me. When I play I get lost in it and it's a very happy place to be" and ain't that the truth?
On 'Home', Lister is joined by André Bassing (keyboards), Steve Amadeo (bass) and Wayne Proctor (drums & percussion) and it has been brilliantly produced by Lister and Proctor. Together, the four of them have delivered an album of blues rock with elements of pop and soul that really sees some serious sparks fly. 'Home' kicks off with the six and a half minute title track, not one of the rockiest tracks on offer, but a belter all the same, with Lister's excellent voice sounding very like Thunder's Danny Bowes. This is followed by 'Broke', a much more upbeat song which has a Roachford feel (remember them?) and would definitely bother the charts if the charts were still relevant and included anything decent these days! A further ten tracks of excellence follow, with the only slight dip being a cover version of the Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse penned classic 'Feeling Good', which is musically spot on but vocally doesn't match up to the well-known 1965 Nina Simone version, probably only because I've heard that so much.
This is an intelligent and mature release from a real talent that, with any luck, should see Aynsley Lister establish himself as a forerunner in the blues genre but it is also an album that should appeal to a much wider audience. Get in your car, wind the windows down, put this on the stereo and by journey's end you won't be able to get the smile off your face! I would also suggest going to see him live when he tours in the autumn to promote the album. I know I'll be there because I just have a feeling it's going to be great. As the man himself says "Music is a release for me. When I play I get lost in it and it's a very happy place to be" and ain't that the truth?
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Straight Talkin' Records
Album
HOME
Review by Rick Tilley
RUNNING TIME:
53:15
RELEASE DATE:
8th July 2013
TRACK LISTING
1) Home; 2) Broke
3) Insatiable
4) Inside Out
5) Free
6) Sugar
7) You Make it Real
8) Feeling Good
9) Possession
10) Hyde 2612
11) Impossible
12) Straight Talkin' Woman
3) Insatiable
4) Inside Out
5) Free
6) Sugar
7) You Make it Real
8) Feeling Good
9) Possession
10) Hyde 2612
11) Impossible
12) Straight Talkin' Woman
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"...an intelligent and mature release from a real talent that, with any luck, should see Aynsley Lister establish himself as a forerunner in the blues genre..."
