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FROM THE ALBUM HEARTWORK
15 February 2024
Like a fine wine or an oak-aged malt liquor, some artists only get better with time and that’s certainly the case with vocalist/guitarist John Fiddler. For over fifty years he’s been steering the good ship Medicine Head through the often murky waters of the music industry and has left a stream of highly regarded albums in his wake. His latest long player under the moniker Medicine Head is Heartwork and it finds him charting a course deep into blues territory to deliver ten tracks that could easily be described as “career defining”.
The first thing that hits you when the opening track comes wafting from the speakers is the album’s rich and luxurious sound. Like a Marshall amplifier that has warmed up nicely with hot valves and a contented hum, ‘Makin’ Up For Lost Love’ has a wonderfully treacly aesthetic, and it’s just as sweet and intoxicating. It is a sound that fits these songs perfectly and their bluesy nature resonates with the listener on some deep, primordial level. Reaching into our psyche and giving our heartstrings a tug, ‘Makin’ Up For Lost Love’ encapsulates the very best of the blues; the guitar lines flow like rivers of silk and make a fine counterpoint to John’s whiskey and Marlboro croak. As do Belinda Campbell’s back vocals which appear on five of these songs (including this opening shot) and they become an integral (though unobtrusive) part of the sound, and act as another instrument, both to foil John’s vocals and add texture.
Reminding me slightly of Tom Petty at his most thoughtful ‘Everybody Has The Blues (Sometimes)’ has a reflective nature, a jilted-lover-standing-in-the-rain type quality that lends itself well to introspection. It’s the type of song (and indeed, album) that’ll fit those contemplative moments as well as small blues clubs. It’s a very intimate, personal album that engages with the listener on a one-to-one basis, that emotional connection is not an easy experience to transfer to a shiny compact disc, but through a kind of musical alchemy, Mr Fiddler does. While the production is lustrous, it is often sparse; there’s plenty of space for the listener to infer their own thoughts and feelings, and it’s this that makes Heartwork a collaborative affair. It also has the benefit of bringing John’s songwriting to the fore, and when the songs are this good, that’s exactly where they should be.
A soothing balm sent to soothe our troubled times, ‘It’s All About The Love’ is a novocaine injection that leaves the listener with a warm, Ready Brek glow. Some music doesn’t bear over analysis and it’s best to sit back, bask in its glory and concede that it’s just a great, great, great, great song. Heartwork is constantly changing gears between slow blues tunes and upbeat, diving numbers and it’s one of the latter that closes the album in the shape of ‘Ridin’ In My Car’, bringing us to our destination, concluding 43-minutes of musical heaven in some style.
Leading with both his heart and head (pun intended) John Fiddler has produced a timeless album that could have been released at any moment in the last fifty years and, subsequently, will sound good for the next fifty.
Track List:
Talking Elephant (label) 23 February 2024 Andy Snipper
For those of a certain age, Medicine Head are the pair of hippies on Top of the Pops & ‘playing’ their hit ‘One And One is One’.
For those who actually followed the band they were one of the true original outfits of the time.
So, for the band’s name to appear out of the blue in 2024, is a bit of a shock. The reality is that this is John Fiddler from the original band, supported by a bunch of excellent musicians. The result is that this is a very fine album of Blues and Americana – 10 tracks of excellent music.
Fiddler’s vocals have the taint of Tom Petty or John Mellencamp about them, but the music is far less rock than it is Blues and Americana. The production is remarkable, all done by Fiddler, creating a huge sound albeit very close and intense.
Opening track, ‘Making Up For Lost Love’, sets the table. A slow Blues, heavy and intense, creating a dark and soulful place. Fiddler sounding like a cross between Walter Trout and Tom Petty.
That kind of sets the frame. The tempo changes but the intensity doesn’t let up. The quality of the playing is excellent across tracks and I found the whole listening experience a delight, going back to certain tracks time and again.
Welcome back Mr Fiddler, this is a delight.
MEDICINE HEAD
WARRIORS OF LOVE
Living Room Records
Upon the first play of this album, I had to do a double take on the album cover, because I could almost swear that I was listening to a Tom Petty album. Of course, that isn’t the case, but comparisons are going to be inevitable, if a little unfair. For a start, there’s not so much emphasis on the rock side of things, giving a purer blues experience, which is no bad thing. All songs are written by John Fiddler, who is the driving force behind the project, inviting a host of musicians to help with the recording, and the result is a realisation of the vision he had from the beginning. Guitar-wise, there’s a variation of clean and dirty tone across the board, all played with feeling, and every guitar solo is beautifully crafted, and caresses your ears as well they should. Musically, there’s a whole lot of talent on show, and with the vocals laid over the top, it rounds out the whole package. When I first played the album I liked it a lot, but after several listens I loved it, because the more you listen, the more you discover.
To put it quite simply, this is a stunning blues album that is worthy of anyone’s time.
JON SEYMOUR
RENOWNED BLUES ARTIST KAT PEARSON'S FIRST RELEASE ON LIVING ROOM RECORDS! ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS MAY 21 2021, IN THE STORE ON CD (autographed) NOW!
ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS MAY 28 2021, IN THE STORE ON CD NOW!
LIVING ROOM RECORDS PROUDLY PRESENTS THE DEBUT SINGLE FROM
BELINDA CAMPBELL
PAINKILLER
produced by john fiddler
download from the store!
Limited Edition CD Single of 100 numbered and signed by Belinda!!
Peace and Love everyone
xx
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