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8/1/2009
Graham Clarke
Fiona Boyes has enjoyed a strong measure of success over the past few years. Her 2006 release, Lucky 13, was nominated for a Blues Music Award for “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year” in 2007, then she received a nomination for “Contemporary Female Artist of the Year” in 2008 and a nod for “Acoustic Blues Album of the Year” the next year for Live From Bluesville, recorded with Rich DelGrosso and Mookie Brill. The native Australian has also become a crowd favorite at blues festivals at many North American blues festivals with her powerful guitar work, her seasoned vocals, and her versatility.
Boyes’ latest release, Blues Woman, is her second release for Yellow Dog Records, and it features her in electric and acoustic settings, with guest stars Marcia Ball, Pinetop Perkins, and Watermelon Slim. Boyes wrote most of the songs here, including the opening cut, “Woman Ain’t a Mule,” which is an ode to female independence. “Howlin’ At Your Door,” features that droning hypnotic Mississippi hill country groove, and the lusty “Got My Eye On You” has a Chicago flavor, with Boyes providing some stinging guitar fills reminiscent of Otis Rush as well as some impressive slide guitar, and “Do You Feel Better” is a slice of Memphis soul.
“The Barrelhouse Funeral” is based on a true story and features the irrepressible Watermelon Slim livening up things with his harmonica and his narrative as the “Preacher.” The acoustic “Place of Milk and Honey” sounds like vintage Fred McDowell with more great slide guitar. Another acoustic track, “Juke Joint on Moses Lane,” also features a fine performance, this time on resonator guitar, and the closing track, “Old Time Ways,” features the ageless Pinetop Perkins on piano.
There are also two covers on the disc; J. B. Lenoir’s “I Want To Go” is transformed into a lively acoustic boogie track from its sober original version, and fellow Australian blues musician Chris Wilson’s “Look Out Love!” is an appealing shuffle that features Slim on dobro.
Recorded in Austin, Blues Woman also features Derek O’Brien on guitar, Jimi Bott on drums, Nick Connolly on piano and B-3, and Ronnie James on upright bass, and Al Gomez on trumpet. The last three years should have proved without a doubt that Fiona Boyes is a force to be reckoned with in the blues world, but her latest release should remove any lingering doubts.