Rich Robinson
Woodstock Sessions Vol 3
(Circle Sound/Eagle Rock)
This album results from Rich taking his crew into Applehead Studios and recording one day of acoustic numbers and a second of more electric material an audience described to me by Robinson as ‘very cool’. The sound is fine and rich in middle, just as well when all sorts of guitars were used plus Hammond and electric piano. He’s a brave lad to attempt this and the recordings have not been Lizzie’d..if you know what I mean. What you hear is what the audience heard and far from being phased by the crowd, Rich plays on in stalwart fashion and feeding off the audience energy and enthusiasm. The band are first class, especially keys man Matt Slocum. ‘The Giving Key’ is almost a more guitar-y Band, somewhat solemn in delivery but soulful through and through. ‘Laila ll’ has a jazzy snare drum intro and the guitars noodle their way into the shape of the song as the Hammond coos in the background. It’s a tad reminiscent of Fairport Convention’s A Sailor’s Life in its steady progression and rolling motion. Would that The Grateful Dead had achieved this cohesiveness more often. ‘One Cylinder’ is much more laidback, you can almost smell the weed. ‘Jewel’ in the sonic crown here is the punchy and exciting ‘I Know You’ with its chugging guitars and sparkling piano trills, also the best vocal performance is found here. It would fit on Exile On Main Street, truly. A set that treads the path between misty acoustic moodiness and out&out electric rock and r&b, riding out on the driving Buffalo Springfield–style Got To Get Better In A Little While.
Pete Sargeant
Rich Robinson’s ‘Woodstock Sessions: Volume 3’ is out now on Circle Sound/Eagle Rock. For more information visit his official website here: http://bit.ly/2aPJXjQ
