August 2, 2007 – Notodden, Norway
Saguitar CD Reviews
This is a rather eclectic mix of songs from Alvin Lee, as it includes an assortment of Rockabilly, Memphis, “Midnight Blues” and more (even rap). It sounds as though some were leftover material from past projects, resuscitated here on “Saguitar”.
The mood changes frequently, from track to track, but no matter, taken individually this is a fine collection of songs, with Alvin’s voice and guitar playing in great form throughout.
There is a lot of stuff here and it sounds better with each listen!
September 23, 2007 – Herb Staehr
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ALVIN LEE Saguitar Repertoire RAR1004 (2007)
While ‘Saguitar’ frequently touches on Alvin Lee’s description of his current music as ‘raw boogie rock’- the title being a play on his Sagittarius star sign – he might have found room for ‘rock & roll’ as part of his musical description as a couple of the tracks sound like an outtakes from his recent Tennessee album recorded with Scotty Moore.
‘Saguitar’ grows on you with repeated listening with only the stark rock-blues and rock and roll divide stopping this from being one of Alvin’s best efforts of late. The emphasis is squarely on having fun and laying down some hot licks, from the opening rock and roll work out of ‘Anytime U Want Me’ and the stripped down retro shuffle and clean picking of ‘It’s Time To Play’, to the Elvis ode ‘Midnite Train’ on which former Quantum Jump/Peddlers drummer Trevor Morais explores a lovely train time shuffle.
But just when you think this album is going to be no more than a mix of retro rock & roll boogie with occasional guitar flurries, up steps Alvin with the almost mournful ‘Motel Blues’. This deep blues is probably the most moving and possibly most honest song about life on the road that Alvin has ever written. It’s so dark and emotionally wrought in places that the smouldering low down blues accompaniment is just about the perfect backing track to some disturbingly pessimistic lyrics. Thus he sings, ‘I don’t want to die in sole downtown motel’ and concludes the first verse with ‘Spend my life out on the road, must be near the end’. Alvin adds a beautifully measured, deep toned solo over Tim Hinckley’s computerised Hammond on the album highlight.
The curious thing is that just like the smoking blues of ‘Blues Has Got A Hold On Me’ – all delicately teased notes and subtle backing – these two tracks stand in stark contrast to the rock & roll elements here, not to mention the almost hot club feel of ‘Memphis’. And yet there is still plenty for Ten Years After fans to enjoy, particularly the fluid groove of ‘It’s All Good’ on which Alvin constructs a short but memorable mid number solo.
There’s also a partial return to TYA’s ‘Working in a Parking Lot’ on the celebratory boogie ‘Got A Lot of Living To Do’. Alvin evokes ZZ Top with the polished production feel of ‘Education’ on which he ultimately stretches out with some fluid playing that should generate some deserved radio play.
Overall, ‘Saguitar’ is an album recorded without record company or production pressures and touches on both Alvin’s strengths, and his occasional foibles, as is the case on ‘The Rapper’. This is a ground breaking outing for Alvin built on drum loops and is curious in as much as it sounds closer to Zappa than any brothers from the hood. But at least no one can complain about a lack of experimentation or innovation from a rocker in his fifth decade as a pro. Indeed there’s even room for some humorous narrative on ‘Rapper’ when Alvin declares, ‘you’ve got more baggage than Federal Express’, which bring s a smile that just about holds sway over the brief bouts of introspection on a slow burning but ultimately cooking album well worth checking out.
****
Review by Pete Feenstra
Interview with Cliff Smith
Cliff Smith: So you have a new album out, ‘Saguitar’. I can hear a lot of Elvis there, who are your other influences?
Alvin Lee: I used Trevor Morais on the first track ‘Midnight Train’ and that’s maybe where the ‘return to Sun Records’ feel came from. I keep leaning back to the fifties but I also I revisited some of my 70’s stuff and Ten Years After stuff. I also recorded a rap song which some people are up in arms about. I don’t particularly care for rap but I like some of the rhythms used. I did it just for fun as an instrumental to experiment with my drum loops but then I thought “This sounds pretty rocky and controversial” – and that’s what Rock ‘n’ Roll is supposed to be.
Cliff Smith: Any plans for a full blown ‘gangsta rap’ album?
Alvin Lee: No, but I may do one more track.
Cliff Smith: Where did you record the album?
Alvin Lee: I recorded it at my home in Spain. This album was an experiment for me to learn to use Logic on the Mac and it took 2 years to record. I recorded about 50-60 songs and some other bits that I never finished. It’s a contrast to my ‘In Tennessee’ album which I recorded with Scotty Moore in 2 days – that’s live music for you.
Cliff Smith: And you played the bass and drums too?
Alvin Lee: Yes, Trevor Morais put down some snare drum and Tim Hinkley
played some keyboards but everything else is me.
Cliff Smith: These songs would work well live, are you playing in the UK anytime soon?
Alvin Lee: No plans as yet, but I hope to be. I try not to play too much as I have a fear of over playing, if you play every night for 3 weeks it becomes
automatic and that’s not good. When Rock ‘n’ Roll becomes boring you’re in trouble.
Cliff Smith: The song ‘Motel Blues’ from your new album is very moving – was life on the road really that depressing for you?
Alvin Lee: It was that night – I never wanted to see an airport again. I sat down with the guitar and the song was written in about 15 minutes. I have a love hate relationship with touring – the week before I’m going out I wonder if I’ll ever get back in one piece. If I’m away playing for 2 months I can’t wait to get back home but if I’m home for 2 months I cants wait to get out there!
Cliff Smith: You were known as ‘the fastest guitar in the west’ and you’re still lightning fast – what’s your practice routine?
Alvin Lee: I just fiddle about, I’ve never played scales and I’m very much self- taught. I look for nice phrases and patterns and practice them until I can get in and out of them easily. Good things often happen if I jam with somebody who has only been playing for 6 months or so – I think that you can learn a lot from someone who is not set in their ways. I play for about an hour a day normally, if I’m recording or playing live then about 2 or 3 hours a day – I sometimes need to get the callouses back on my fingertips before a tour, they get a bit soft here in Spain with all the swimming…
Cliff Smith: What music have you been listening to recently, which new bands do you like?
Alvin Lee: I can’t think of any new bands I like off the top of my head. I listen to what I’ve always listened to – Blues, R ’n’ B; Big Bill Broonzy, Django Reinhardt, George Benson. I love Flamenco too, I have a guy that comes round and gives me lessons – he has an incredibly strong thumbnail! I can play a bluff fandango…
Cliff Smith: Anything else you’d like to say?
Alvin Lee: I’m hoping that as many people as possible will listen to and enjoy the album. It’s a very selfish album; I didn’t sit down and say “What’s commercial? What’s going to sell records?” I just made some music.
Good Times Magazine
Pre Advertisement for a package that didn’t happen…
Guitar & Bass Magazine UK — Winter 2007
