Fear Nothing could just be an outstanding metaphor for Beverly McClellan’s life; the fact that she uses this inspiration as the title of her international debut album release shows not only how much she believes in her own mantra but also in the music that she has recorded.
American television programme The Voice may have given her national exposure but this is one woman whose work stretches back long before breaking a countrywide conscious with her very intelligent music and raw power in her sensual and honest bluesy voice.
For her sixth album, the previous five being released independently, Beverley McClellan brings her unique position in blues rock as a spokesperson as well as a musician to bring some very good and hugely enjoyable songs to the ears of the genre’s fans and with hope beyond into mainstream listening. To perform almost everything on an album, to provide every instrument that you can hear as well as the vocals requires guts and determination. There really is nothing to hide behind, no-one else to pass the blame onto if anybody finds its disagreeable but as the title suggests, Fear Nothing, because if you truly believe in something you shouldn’t fear the power of your convictions.
There are some outstanding and very decent songs on the album. Each track offering the listener something substantial in the way the music was constructed and placed together. Whilst Beverly McClellan will find it hard going up against the likes of British blues maestro Joanne Shaw Taylor and fellow American Beth Hart, she nonetheless completes a trio of genuinely interesting and exciting female blues/rock musicians to have bought out an album in the last few months.
Songs such as Nobody’s Fault But Mine, Love Will Find A Way Out and the bonus track of As I Walk On fills the room with desire and an earthy attitude which is uncompromising and subtly moving whilst offering the listener a view of a woman who has been so far untainted by selling out on her core belief.
Fear Nothing is a cracking album which allows you to wallow in melancholia whilst providing evidence of incredible times ahead.
Fear Nothing by Beverly McClellan is released on December 1st 2012 through Flavoured Nations. Beverly McClellan joins Stevie Vai on the U.K. leg of his world tour. Fans of Beverly can catch her in the north-west on December 7th at the Apollo in Manchester.
Ian D. Hall