Seasick Steve is back with his new album ‘Man From Another Time’. He’s bringing us no surprises; he retains the same unique, personable style that can only be achieved by a man who spent the earlier half of his life living ‘rough’, and now waxes lyrical about these past life experiences, accompanied by his now well-known array of ancient, defective guitars and makeshift percussion instruments, as time-worn and knockabout as the man himself.
Steve’s latest offering treats us once again to his unique, raw style of accomplished blues guitar playing, and his simple but effective storytelling charm – his sparsely worded nuggets of wisdom and anecdotes both humorous and poignant make for a touching narrative that will engage most listeners, even if on only the most basic of humanitarian levels. Four albums in, however, the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” springs to mind, and it’s arguable that Steve is making music in a dated style, and presenting it unfashionably. Yet, if Seasick Steve were to thrice pluck his ‘Three String Trance Wonder’ and have all of his fans simultaneously appear in the same room, it would be a diverse bunch of people. Whereas many blues records being produced today exhibit a studio gloss far from its humble route, Steve produces raw and intimate affairs, and seemingly, this still has the capacity to appeal to a wide demographic.
Many of his tracks feature his Norwegian rhythm section, The Level Devils, but it’s his solo moments that prove the most effective. Take, for example, the title track of the album, which is about finding yourself older than you ever thought you would. With just his voice and his string deficient guitar, it’s moments like these that give this album its value.
It’s not poetic genius, and the songs couldn’t be described as ‘catchy’, but that’s not what the blues are for. The blues are raw, soulful, and real; and that’s what we’re given here.
