The latest releases reviewed.
SOLOMON BURKE Nashville Sanctuary ****
The self-styled king of rock'n'soul, father of 21 children, bishop of a church and owner of a string of funeral homes, Solomon Burke is not a man to be dismissed. Now, at 66, he's hooked up with ace country-rock guitarist Buddy Miller to produce the final part of what is termed his "21st century trilogy" (the excellent Don't Give Up On Me and Make Do with What You Got preceded it). Surprisingly for one of the great voices and theatrical figures of soul, Burke has headed for Stetson land. But fear not, this is country in safe hands: apart from Burke's instinctive grasp of quality, and Miller's undoubted good taste, the "bishop" is joined by such luminaries as Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. All produce memorable duets, though the listener is never in any doubt just who is the star. Check out the wonderfully skeletal bookend tracks, That's How I Got to Memphis and Til I Get It Right. The tracks they sandwich are tasty as well. www.thekingsolomonburke.com Joe Breen
HELLWOOD Chainsaw of Life Munich Records ****
Hellwood has a population of three: the dark-hearted roots primitive Johnny Dowd; the maverick country songwriter Jim White; and Dowd's sometime drummer Willie B aka Brian Wilson. (No, not that Brian Wilson.) This is a record that could be described as a spiritual journey, though not one that would lead to a church. God comes in for plenty of mentions, with Dowd's characteristically caustic opener, Thank You, Lord, setting the uneasy tone. Not to be outdone, the relatively subdued White paints a grim portrait of hell in Fireworks Factory, before Dowd and White combine to create A Man Loves His Wife. This is a classic gothic tale; it, and the closing Dream On, are the album's twin peaks. The music and lyrics can be abrasive and unpredictable, and Dowd is happier that way - there's a touch of the musical Bukowski about him. White is more reflective, while Willie B is clearly busy but not obviously so. It's not all sunshine, but at least these guys are trying to push the envelope, if not destroy it altogether. www.munichrecords.com Joe Breen
VARIOUS ARTISTS Acoustic Africa Putamayo Music ***
Africa in all its grand gestures, subtle hues and lithe rhythms might be impossible to capture on a single recording, but Acoustic Africa makes a decent stab at shining a spotlight on its lyrical melody lines, an aspect of its musical identity that's often been sacrificed to its insistent dance rhythms in the past. Ivory Coast singer and percussionist Dobet Gnahoré delights in the syllabic swordplay of Palea, and Misahotaka Ny Akama celebrates Madagascar's delicate valiha, a gorgeous tube-shaped bamboo harp. Let's not fool ourselves, though: this is primarily music for a Starbucks generation: skimming the surface of an entire continent in search of a certain fluidity that will caress rather than challenge, cajole rather than exhort the listener. A genteel introduction to blisteringly diverse music. www.putamayo.com Siobhán Long
