A release from the loose cannon Eric Gales always turns out to be intriguing. I reckon this is because he will listen to Holst, Howlin’ Wolf, Herbie Hancock..,to Blues, bluegrass, Brahms and Billie Holiday – and that could be one of my record shelves. Of course the core of this is the Blues-Rock element that this label nurtures so well, but Gales would be equally at home on say Blue Note or Warners-Atlantic. This time, Eric spreads his net wide and well, goes for it…

Intro gives us a portentous burst of guitar with a hint of Wagner! Then it’s off into Something’s Gotta Give brings in B Slade over a brisk acoustic strum start and a tense but folky song quite different from Gales’ recent input. There’s a touch of the mighty Gil Scott Heron or Curtis Mayfield, with cool Hammond chording and then a Freddie King electric guitar lead. Eric plays it fluid and snappy. The tempo settles into a choppy r&b workout. It’s clever and inspired.

Next up Whatcha Gon’ Do grabs an itchy beat and throws it over a bumping bass line. The wah wah chomps away and the insistent tune rolls onwards. The bridge is pure Doyle B II! Following that It Just Beez That Way gives us sparky acoustic overload with spidery wah slide electric. Gales ponders on the way a lady has treated him and the mood of the song puts me in mind of Johnny Guitar Watson, fans of the latter should check this one out. Great ensemble vocal, presumably including LaDonna. Next, How Do I Get You which sounds like a rock number that’s been around forever. Beautiful stuff, played with subtlety and some rich guitar tones that leave the composition lodged in your head. Excellent bass runs only enhance the magic. Southpaw Serenade partners Gales with another high-profile ‘leftie’ axeman Doyle Bramhall II and is taken slowly for the jazzy sway to take full effect. Gales sings about being different. A cool guitar workout that sounds laidback and fresh.

Reaching For A Change is a coiled-spring rocker that bursts out of the speakers as a cloudy mist rolls through the busy musical framework. The melody here reeks of Alice In Chains! Somebody Lied starts almost like a Beatles track, stabbing beat and clipped phrasing, on a curious composition that might even be inspired by 10CC or even Steely Dan. Gales is never afraid to journey somewhere new. Then a Beatles song in the form of With A Little Help From My Friends with Beth Hart. Probably a song that’s been done a little too often over the years and nowadays belongs to J D Simo. Resolution plays with modulation FX then develops into an other-worldly outing over arpeggio chording and a dark melody that conjures up all manner of visions, even without substance simulation…..it’s looking for a mystery film to soundtrack, for sure. Really grabs this listener as it treads along in dark shadows…

On the version I have a bonus cut called Pedal To The Metal appears and it’s a pop rock item in XTC vein.

A step on from his last two records, The Bookends rocks into pastures new, with plenty confidence and not one sign of jadeness…

Pete Sargeant