Some good old fashioned guitar music with some fine vocalists.
A lot of reviews I request myself, this one happened to be passed my way by the Reviews Editor who thought I may get something out of the album in question. I was quite pleased – Iain Ashley Hersey is a name that has come up a few times as someone I should check out and with this release being a ‘Best Of’ his work so far, what better place to start?
As soon as ‘Down And Dirty’ started up, I thought the decision to send me this had been spot on. The gravelly vocals (courtesy of Dante Marchi) and Hersey’s seventies rock style riffing and Ritchie Blackmore styled soloing were right up my street. There’s plenty more where that came from, with ‘Distant Memories’ following up with similar excellent fashion. It turns out the compilation has been assembled in chronological order, taking four or five tracks from each of the three albums issued thus far. It’s very helpful for newcomers like me to pick out which album sounds like the one I’d like to start with, should I choose to buy up any of Hersey’s back catalogue.
There are a variety of vocalists on offer too, with Mike Stone, David Montgomery, Randy Williams and Carsten Schulz all adding to the fray. Current King Kobra singer Paul Shortino also makes an appearance on ‘Hold On’. Inevitably, Hersey’s Blackmore influence will draw Rainbow comparisons, which are only strengthened by the white Stratocaster on the cover and the appearance of ex-Rainbow powerhouse Graham Bonnet. He bawls his way through ‘The Holy Grail’ and the riff heavy ‘Walking The Talk’… and just to make sure you know exactly where Hersey is coming from, another ex-Rainbow singer Doogie White pops up for a cover of Rainbow’s ‘L.A. Connection’. The playing on this version is superb, and while nobody will deliver it like Dio, Doogie makes more than a fair effort at it.
As the CD progressed, I got more into the seventies rock with a touch of Rainbow-esque style. I would compare Hersey’s output to Yngwie Malmsteen, but with more emphasis on songs over soloing. That was a big plus in my book and I found this to endear me to the work all the more.
Existing fans will probably have most of this stuff, but I thought not only was it a fine body of work on one album, there is an unreleased track ‘Red Head Rampage’ added on, which is very good and well worth hearing. I liked what I heard – some good old fashioned guitar music with some fine vocalists? What’s not to like?
James Gaden
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