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ALBUM REVIEW Harmonica hard rock covers from Will Wilde on Bring It On Home

ALBUM REVIEW Harmonica hard rock covers from Will Wilde on Bring It On Home

WHEN a PR company sends you an album of hard rock with a harmonica the featured instrument for  moment you wonder if rock n roll has finally jumped the shark...or are you tripping from something someone gave you at a festival last year.

But being obligated to at least give it a chance one reads the press release about harmonica maestro Will Wilde and discover it is an album of cover versions...the Dubious Hat is donned; a stiff drink is poured and a deep breath taken.

Well, for a Northern Ireland-based site its always a good sign when our late adopted son, Rory Gallaghers track Bad Penny opens the proceedings. Faithful cover with the bluesy tones of Rorys playing given a unique subtle twist.

Bring It On Home: A Tribute to British and Irish Blues and Rock is, however, a strange beast. The covers of the tracks are given that expressive harmonica touch, even if some are penalty kicks, such as Sabbaths The Wizard.

Others are given an extra dimension, in particular Deep Purples Lazy that is given a real bluesy touch.

Equally John Mayalls Im Your Witchdoctor oozes with passion.

But there is an issue here. Wilde is such a tremendous harmonica player that we were left begging to hear original tracks - hard rockin harmonica groove.

That being said it is an enjoyable listen - you can check out the bonus track and video of Wildes Parisienne Walkways and hear his soulful playing.

That he has ambitions is clear by taking on Tulls Locomotive Breath where the song is given an extra dimension, that would have been a perfect cover with some more aggressiveness in the vocal delivery.

The unique tunings of his harmonica mean he can reach tones and notes that match guitar lines.

As such he stand-out song is Bring It On Home a great interpretation of Sonny Boy Williamson/Led Zeppelin that is leant an urgency by Wildes playing.

This is a great covers album but it would have been a much better collection with some of this talented mans own songs.

Review by Jonathan Traynor

Bring It On Home is released on March 9th


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