Eva Carboni – The Blues Archives
Mad Ears Productions
11 tracks/42 minutes
Eva Carboni is a Sardinian born blues singer who began her career in L.A. and now works out of the U.K. with Andy Littlewood and Mad Ears Productions. This is her 6th album and features unreleased songs and reworked tracks from her career.
Backing Carboni’s vocals are Andy Littlewood on guitar, keys, bass and backing vocals, Pete Nelson on drums, Mick Simpson on guitar for five cuts, Dave Hunt on harp for track 4, and Andreus Linsdell on lead guitar on track 5.
The album opens with “Someone Else’s Life” and features Simpson’s big guitar behind Eva’s vocals. She sings with feeling in this cool slow blues. “Love Me Tonight” is next, an archival mix. Somber and full of lament, Carboni sings forthrightly. Big organ, and nice guitar work by Mick are featured here.
“Turning My Back on the Blues” follows, a cut with a NOLA vibe with horns. Horn solos abound to great effect. Carboni gives us a jazzy take on the cut. “Bad Blood,” another archival mix, has a great rootsy sound with acoustic guitar/dobro. Eva gives us a breathy and spirited performance and we get a fine harp solo to listen to.
Next is “Something’s Gotta Give,” another cut with Simpson on the big guitar. Carboni sings with electronic effects to dirty up the sound; it’s a rocking blues track. “Gone Back Home” is listed as a Freedom Mix, and it has a hill country vibe to it with stomping and acoustic guitars. “The Magic” is another archives mix and it is a slow, rock blues ballad. Carboni sings with emotion.
“Unfinished Business” follows; this one is a jazzy blues cut, slow and solemn. Eva sings with dark and deep passion. Piano and organ fill in well and Simpson ads a guitar solo. Next is “A Woman Scorned,” listed as a bar room mix. It’s a shuffle with a great groove. A nice piano solo is featured and Carboni sings with a sultry tone.
“River of Life” follows, another ballad with a simple acoustic guitar lead and powerful vocals by Eva. A thoughtful guitar solo is provided, too. The final cut is “Wrong Turn,” another archive recording. It opens with organ and Eva sort of taking us to church. The song builds and Mick gives us a ringing guitar solo mid-song. Carboni sings with deep emotion and winds her way to a n emotive finish to bring things home.
This is a good album of blues and rock blues showcasing well done vocals, nice guitar and great, tight instrumental support. It’s worth a spin or two to hear it!
