Harry Manx

The follow-up to this pair's Jubilee album finds them basically starting where they left off. And fans should be thankful for that. The instrumentation is top-notch and the selections seem to suit the record perfectly. A great example of this is the haunting but folksy reworking of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire," which is still dark but has a certain hint of brightness thanks to the use of bazouki and tamboura. However, the original material definitely measures up to the covers, especially the smooth and tender "Sometimes," which glides along effortlessly. Meanwhile, Manx and Breit weave more magic with the strolling, ambling "Bottom of the Hill," which is quite catchy. Think of a song by Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch and it's a fair comparison. This is definitely truer during the rootsy and looser "Steal," as Manx and Breit mix roots, folk, and blues impressively. The album is offset, though, by pretty instrumentals, the first being "Better Man Blues," which has an airy yet dark quality running through it, resembling a piece of a soundtrack score thatMark Knopfler hasn't gotten around to yet. However, a rather heady, psychedelic-era tune called "Death Have Mercy" brings to mind Jeff Beck's work circa Frankie's House. Meanwhile, the title track is the Delta blues personified, even if there are flourishes of guitar strumming over the standard slow-creeping blues chords. For the homestretch, Manx and Breit create the gorgeous and cozy "Hang On," which sounds like it was recorded in one take as the sun was coming up. The album, as it states on its cover, is indeed supreme quality. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide