Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Women of the Blues, wild, the finest and most beguiling of Tempests and such an asset to the genre that mere mortal men at times cannot, nor should they, compete with on the stage or in the hearts of the Blues lover.

The compilation album is replete with such stirring definitions of cool, the abundance of such female guitarists crowding, packing themselves in between the layers of music is never one to truly turn away from, especially if it does introduce a new following to the ranks. Yet away from the guitar, the ample genre which is enjoying a huge renaissance after being comfortably in the doldrums until the turn of the century, women and the Blues are never truly given the opportunity to stand out, to be lauded, it is as if the guitar is seen as the only weapon of choice in the world of stray beautiful lines and down at heel.

Yet at the front of stage, a strange fixation can occur when the watcher of Blues melody catches sight of the front-woman knocking tones of delightful serenade out on the harmonica, the harp for the mouth and in the same way that an orchestra revels in a figure dressed in black caress the harp, so too does the Blues lover wrestle with free abandon at the sight of a mouth organ in full flight, especially when accompanied by a great and transfixing voice.

For Ruff Records, their stunning compilation Blues Harp Women is a vindication of the genre’s dalliance into the realms of the classic persona, the hushed tones that greet the expectant joy of hearing such power, such dynamic precision in the hands of maestro and siren of the stage.

A wealth of talent garners the two C.D. pack and with such a profusion of feminine cunning at the listener’s disposal, there is more than enough to wallow amongst as the sound of the harmonica goes from being the sound of the subtle backdrop to the musical instrument you suddenly cannot do without on a Blues track.

With contributions from Roxy Perry and the track Roadmaster, the excellent Big Mama Thornton with Down Home Shakedown, Octavia’s Naughty Girl, Zola Moon’s compelling Mechanical Beast, Terry Leoning’s wonderful instructive piece Meet Me Where They Play The Blues and Maria Coyote’s Riker’s Island all capturing the mood and sentiment, Blues Harp Women is a tremendous way to celebrate the Blues in a whole new way.

A fantastic double album full of crafted individuality but under the same glorious banner, Blues Harp Women is a true joy.

Ian D. Hall