Is music progressing when it looks back. Sometimes, as it reminds us where we’ve come from to help us direct our future. Here are a couple albums that mix retro and roots to take us beyond.
Amelia White has a vintage nasal sound that works well on this mix of rural and trad material. She sings, plays guitar and with her core of Dave Coleman/g-org, Sergio Webb/g-banjo, Dave Jacques-Parker Hawkins/b, Megan Jane/dr and various guests she takes you to blue highway roads. She’s a good storyteller as on “Free Advice” and gives some C&W moods for a rock steady “Little Cloud Over Little Rock.” Misty moods prevail on Mother of Mine” and “Let the Wind Blow” and the bowl is dusty on a rich duet with Will Kimbrough on the dobro as they duet on an earthy “Pink Cloud.” South of the Cumberland Gap.
If you were a fan of the “Girl Groups” of the 60s, you’re gonna love leader Charlie Faye and the background voices of BettySoo and Akina Adderley as they mix moods of Dick Dale, The Ventures and The Ronettes on this collection of retro-originals. Charlie is a coy on the bouncy “1-2-3-4” and does a street corner doo-wop with the chicks for the ballad “Tonight’s The Night.” Some STAXY soul with keyboards is made for the dance floor on “Riding High” and go-go grooves with Surfari guitars ride the tube on “You Gotta Give It Up” and “Stone Cold Fox.” Duane Eddy is smiling down from heaven on this one.