Rory Block
From the Dust
(Telarc CD83614)
This one has a warning and it's warranted. Warning: Organic Music. They
are not joking. It's Rory singing and playing guitar and that's all there is. No
preservatives or additives. All natural ingredients. And you really couldn't ask for
anything more. This is pure gold stuff. Rory is completely in her element with this all
acoustic, all raw disc. Fourteen tracks. All original tunes. 58 minutes of very intense,
intimate blues that is really captivating. We can start with her voice if you want. Block
is an outstanding vocalist that really pushes it all out there emotionally. She feels it
when she sings it. And it comes through like that, especially in this type of recording.
You feel as if you are right there with her. There is a brutal honesty in her voice that
emerges from the speakers as you listen to it. It's rare to get that kind of vibe from a
performer. She does her own backup singing too. Take a tune like "The Gate"
which is as cool a gospel tune as you are ever likely to hear. Block becomes a whole choir
of backup singers. It's really wonderful.
Then there's the jam, we can talk about that now if you want. Her guitar
slide work is first rate. She is a truly gifted player. Her ax work is deceptively simple
yet extremely calculated and engaging. One needs look no further than track 7, "I Am
Bound" for some extremely powerful slide work. In this type of recording, the snap
and pop of the slide are beautifully orchestrated and captured. Block proves herself a
versatile guitar player on all the tracks. Without a doubt, my favorite track is
"Unprecedented Quiet". This is just one of those tracks that stops you dead in
your tracks and makes you pay attention. It's subtle and quiet in all the right ways. It's
elegant perfection. Like the rest of the CD.
This is really an outstanding product. Really worth your attention.
- Bill Fountain -
Southwest Blues CD Review - March 2005
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