Poplar Jake & The Electric Delta Review - Hands On

Size: 110,7 MB
Time: 47:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues, Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Conspiracy (4:36)
02. My Captain (3:26)
03. King Of The May (3:29)
04. Big John (5:46)
05. Mountain Woman (7:29)
06. Leaving This Morning (6:53)
07. Soo Cow Soo (2:44)
08. Spirit Of 79 (4:13)
09. Tighten Up On It (3:48)
10. Holler And Run (5:02)

The Electric Delta Review, formed in 2014 by singer, songwriter, guitarist Poplar Jake. Already an acclaimed solo performer, Jake wanted to develop his vision of the blues and invite contributions from like-minded musicians. The idea, to begin with, was a simple one, Delta blues through Fender amps.
Each musician brought something else to the table. Harp player Dan Collins was steeped in the Chicago school of James Cotton and Shakey Horton. Drummer Dave Sims brought an extensive knowledge of the entire blues tradition, but was particularly fond of the West Coast sound. The Duchess, on bass, brought a classically-trained ear and an open mind. Every player brought something of themselves to the party too, resulting in a unique sound that still feels immediately familiar.
The band’s debut EP entitled, “No More Signifying” established the blueprint; Jake’s slide guitar crossing and weaving with Dan’s wailing harp, over the water-tight rhythm section of Dutch and Dave. The following year saw the album “See What You Done” climb to higher reaches of the IBBA blues chart, being voted Album of the Month upon its release.
A new album is scheduled for 2017, including several tracks which have proven already to be live favourites.

Hands On

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Poplar Jake - From The Delta To The Docks

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:22
Size: 87.8 MB
Styles: Acoustic Delta blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:09] 1. See See Mama
[1:53] 2. Miss Etta
[2:54] 3. Whipping Boy
[4:54] 4. Milady
[4:40] 5. Pretty Peggy
[4:31] 6. Burned
[2:56] 7. 32-400
[3:24] 8. When I Get To Drinking
[2:25] 9. Five And Some Change
[3:27] 10. Tribiani Time
[4:04] 11. Sweet Marianne

Opening with "See See Mama", this album nails Poplar Jake's colours to the blues mast in no uncertain terms with a thundering Leadbelly-meets-Charlie-Patton 12 string and growling vocal. Traditional and personal themes vie for attention as the lyric conveys a time-honoured bluesman's complaint; "you made me love you,"he hollers, "but you ain't giving me none". "Miss Etta" uses the blues formula in a more playful manner with breezy, jazz-inflected licks and a cheekily suggestive vocal. Hot on its heels comes "Whipping Boy", a tough, taut, declaiming protest blues with Z.Z. Birmingham's jack-hammer harmonica weaving in and out of Jake's resonator to evoke the early Chess sides of Muddy Waters with Little Walter. After these three storming twelve-bar numbers comes "Milady" - the album's first departure from the textbook blues template. Here twin acoustic guitars interweave, and the tonality of the piece is more major-key, albeit with bluesy inflections. The lyric is more wistful than accusatory, and the changes more Neil Young than Skip James. "Pretty Peggy" finds Jake firmly back in blues territory, this time evoking the spirit of John Lee Hooker with a paen to his departed mother. This is the only offering on this album which finds Jake playing electric guitar, and it is presented in a solo context; a de-tuned chocolate-brown tone offsetting the reverb-laden vocal. "Burned", the album's centrepiece, owes more to Nick Drake or John Martyn than to the Delta school, but remains a blues in the true sense - a harrowing account of a man's struggle to make amends for past misdeeds and retain his sanity. Chilling harmonics begin and end a unique, extraordinary piece. Returning to the 12-string, "32-400" sees Jake pushing out a walking bass figure of the sort beloved by barrelhouse pianists of the twenties and thirties, which later formed one of the cornerstones of rock'n'roll. "When I Get To Drinking finds him in a rueful mood, mournful bottleneck again evoking the young Muddy Waters, though the solo context presents us with the Muddy of Stovall's plantation rather than up-town Chicago. "Five And Some Change", short but sweet, showcases Jake's seldom-heard mandolin playing; another breezy blues, but again the mood is wistful, contrasting "Miss Etta"'s playfulness. Then comes "Tribiani Time", its lyric perhaps a sumnation of all that has preceded it; mistakes, regrets, loves and friendships lost, a struggle to come to terms with one's own limitiations and failings, all against the stark backdrop of Mark Rae's exquisite bar-room piano - "one more hit from the bottle/don't make me go home" sings Jake in an attempt to drown his conscience - this is real three-in-the-morning stuff. But as the smoke and liquor-fumes subside, a crisp mandolin takes us headlong into "Sweet Marianne", the album's closing track. Here the feel is more country-rock than blues, and the mood is one of determined optimism. Here the singer begins to regret and recant his misdeeds, and so begin to overcome them, envisaging building anew by starting from scratch. Anything worthwhile is hard work. But it's worth it.

From The Delta To The Docks mc
From The Delta To The Docks zippy

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Poplar Jake & Electric Delta Review - See What You Done

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:01
Size: 119.1 MB
Styles: Electric Delta blues
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Blues See What You Done
[3:55] 2. Hard Man
[4:06] 3. Dark Narcotic
[3:28] 4. Blink And You Miss It
[3:30] 5. Big Road Blues
[9:25] 6. Back Door Man
[3:14] 7. Ladygrove Walk
[6:04] 8. Lammas
[4:47] 9. Swamp Thing
[4:59] 10. Freya Marie
[5:30] 11. I Was A Fool

Poplar Jake – Guitars & Vocal, Dan Collins – Harmonica, Dave Sims – Drums, The Duchess – Cello.

Poplar Jake & The Electric Delta Review play original songs by Poplar Jake as well as the more traditional blues repertoire. Their debut album “See What You Done” has just been released. Building on the success of their 2014 single and 3-track EP ‘No More Signifyin’”, the band have combined their reverence for traditional blues themes with flashes of wit and originality in their arrangements. Here is the authoritative drumming of Dave Sims, the fat-bottom bass of The Duchess, the keening harmonica of Dan Collins and the unique guitar and vocal of Poplar Jake. Meet the country blues through Fender amps with a water-tight rhythm section. The ethic of the band is ensemble playing, instrumental breaks lend something extra to the song rather than overwhelming it, nor is the song ever a mere platform for the solo. Though coming from different backgrounds and bringing with them very different approaches to the blues, the four musicians work together through a healthy mutual respect and willingness to learn from each other. The aim is a simple one: It’s gotta move people! Prepare to be moved!

See What You Done mc
See What You Done zippy

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