Is Memphis currently producing the best acoustic blues around today?  Richard Johnston and Alvin Youngblood Hart are among the favourites to scoop Handy awards in 2003, and newcomer Mark Lemhouse is already staking an early claim for a nomination next year.

Lemhouse has followed the path of many bluesmen of the last century, stopping off in Memphis and being immersed in its influences before moving on - back to his home state of Oregon.  A regular for many months at the Center for Southern Folklore with bassist Scott Bomar, who also plays on and produces this CD, his first release epitomises so many aspects of Memphis blues and is remarkable for both the quality of playing and the variety of material.

Eight of the twelve tracks are covers, mostly biased towards the post war style that Lemhouse seems to favour.  The opener is a laid back version of Tampa Red's 'You Can't Get That Stuff No More' but the pace hots up on Fred McDowell's 'What's the Matter With Papa's Little Angel Child' which has a great North Mississippi groove straight from the juke joints.  'Baby Sister Blues' has Lemhouse sounding uncannily like British bluesman Eddie Martin and, harmonica apart (there's no harp on this CD), there are many similarities in playing style and choice of material.

Tom Waits' 'No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby' is an inspired selection featuring some great slide playing and Charlie Feathers' 'One Hand Loose' is straight ahead rockabilly that could have been recorded at Sun Studios in the mid 50s.

Lemhouse was mentored during his time in Memphis by Robert 'Wolfman' Belfour and, whilst this encounter falls short of meeting the Devil at the crossroads,this has clearly been a major influence.  The kid from the west coast plays with the soul of a man from Tennessee.  His acceptance in Memphis music circles is evidenced by the liner notes, written by no less than that superb writer and authority on all things to do with the Bluff City, Robert Gordon.  Mojo magazine have already recognised this outstanding debut by including it in their Top 10 blues CDs of 2002 and this will hopefully be the springboard that propels an outstanding talent into the public eye.