Dave Arcari – Still Friends
The sound and style of Scottish alternative blues troubadour Dave Arcari has been described as a mix of trash country, rockabilly punk and pre-war Delta blues, as heard on a septet of internationally acclaimed solo releases, numerous singles, an EP and a live offering.
However, the other side of Dave Arcari, which showcases his love of old school acoustic blues, is front and centre on Still Friends, an album you would be forgiven for thinking originated east of the Delta, up in Hill country, and probably next to a whisky still.
Indeed the sound of the album, recorded by Dave Arcari in his own studio with only two microphones, carries the sonic stamp of the old-time blues players whose music went straight from the pre-war studio booth to a Shellac 78 record (the only thing missing here is the crackle of those old records).
The results, as Arcari states himself, are the truest, and most authentic, recordings possible for the 12 songs on offer, many of which featured on earlier albums (with different or additional instrumentation).
Opener 'Hellbound Train,' which originally carried a gruffer voiced, slide effected arrangement, works well here in its hill blues picking style, complete with heed the warning lyricism ("If that Hellbound train stops for you my friend, your time has come and, well, you just can’t pretend!").
The slower paced, blues pleading 'Come With Me' and folk-country picking styles of 'No Easy Way' and 'Wherever I Go' further set the acoustic scene before the album’s title track and 'Whisky In My Blood' stand acoustically proud as highlights.
The reflective 'Still Friends' (a live staple and firm fan favourite) has found the perfect, banjo picked home here, while 'Whisky In My Blood' (the rockabilly styled title track of the 2014 album Dave Arcari recorded with The Hellsinki Hellraisers) works well as a jaunty acoustic cry to The Water Of Life.
Equally jaunty are 'Close To The Edge' and 'McPherson’s Lament.'
The latter, which musically belies its heading for "the gallows tree" title, was clearly born in the Scottish hills, and not those of Kentucky.
The world weary, low voiced delivery of 'Walk The Walk' is, however, very much influenced by traditional American blues, as is lost love folk song 'She’s Gone' and the finger-pickin' blues fun of 'Good Friend Blues.'
The album closes out on 'Younger Days,' the glass raised, up-tempo yodelling Yin to the title track’s more reflective, looking back Yang.
Yes, Dave Arcari might be best buddies with trash country and rockabilly punk but he’s Still Friends with old-time Delta blues and Hill Country folk. And that’s an acoustically good thing to hear.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Still Friends is officially released on Buzz Records on 7th November.
It is available on limited edition Violet coloured vinyl, CD, Digital and all streaming/download services.
https://davearcari.bandcamp.com/album/still-friends
Dave Arcari will play four ‘Still Friends Release Shows’ through November:
Thursday 6th - Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
Friday 7th – Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
Saturday 8th – The Tolbooth, Stirling
Thursday 13th – The Forum, Darlington
However, the other side of Dave Arcari, which showcases his love of old school acoustic blues, is front and centre on Still Friends, an album you would be forgiven for thinking originated east of the Delta, up in Hill country, and probably next to a whisky still.
Indeed the sound of the album, recorded by Dave Arcari in his own studio with only two microphones, carries the sonic stamp of the old-time blues players whose music went straight from the pre-war studio booth to a Shellac 78 record (the only thing missing here is the crackle of those old records).
The results, as Arcari states himself, are the truest, and most authentic, recordings possible for the 12 songs on offer, many of which featured on earlier albums (with different or additional instrumentation).
Opener 'Hellbound Train,' which originally carried a gruffer voiced, slide effected arrangement, works well here in its hill blues picking style, complete with heed the warning lyricism ("If that Hellbound train stops for you my friend, your time has come and, well, you just can’t pretend!").
The slower paced, blues pleading 'Come With Me' and folk-country picking styles of 'No Easy Way' and 'Wherever I Go' further set the acoustic scene before the album’s title track and 'Whisky In My Blood' stand acoustically proud as highlights.
The reflective 'Still Friends' (a live staple and firm fan favourite) has found the perfect, banjo picked home here, while 'Whisky In My Blood' (the rockabilly styled title track of the 2014 album Dave Arcari recorded with The Hellsinki Hellraisers) works well as a jaunty acoustic cry to The Water Of Life.
Equally jaunty are 'Close To The Edge' and 'McPherson’s Lament.'
The latter, which musically belies its heading for "the gallows tree" title, was clearly born in the Scottish hills, and not those of Kentucky.
The world weary, low voiced delivery of 'Walk The Walk' is, however, very much influenced by traditional American blues, as is lost love folk song 'She’s Gone' and the finger-pickin' blues fun of 'Good Friend Blues.'
The album closes out on 'Younger Days,' the glass raised, up-tempo yodelling Yin to the title track’s more reflective, looking back Yang.
Yes, Dave Arcari might be best buddies with trash country and rockabilly punk but he’s Still Friends with old-time Delta blues and Hill Country folk. And that’s an acoustically good thing to hear.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Still Friends is officially released on Buzz Records on 7th November.
It is available on limited edition Violet coloured vinyl, CD, Digital and all streaming/download services.
https://davearcari.bandcamp.com/album/still-friends
Dave Arcari will play four ‘Still Friends Release Shows’ through November:
Thursday 6th - Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
Friday 7th – Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
Saturday 8th – The Tolbooth, Stirling
Thursday 13th – The Forum, Darlington