Sugar Ray & The Bluetones • Blues from Sibculo

 

Review from Blues Blast Magazine:
It has been a long gap since 2020's Too Far From The Bar so it is wonderful to have a new album from one of the great blues combos. Sugar Ray Norcia and drummer Neil Gouvin have been playing together since school days and bassist Michael 'Mudcat' Ward has been in the band for many years but this is the first Bluetones album for experienced guitarist Rusty Zinn. Recorded over three relaxed days at a small studio in Sibculo, Netherlands, the album demonstrates the sheer ease with which these guys play together. The material is half originals and half covers, blending the band's signature sound of Chicago blues with elements of cajun, rockabilly and even cowboy music!
Ray's harp leads the way on his 'No More Chances', the whole band in perfect sync as Rusty adds a stinging solo. The loping style of Jimmy Reed can be heard on 'High And Lonesome' (though Ray's harp is far more muscular than Reed's) before Rusty demonstrates his mastery of T-Bone Walker's style on 'Mean Old World', the longest cut on the album and one of the best. 'Blind Date' is a song that the band has recorded before (on 2016's Seeing Is Believing); the version here is longer and really rattles along with lots of harp from the start, the rhythm section underpinning everything, Rusty adding nice arpeggios behind Ray's vocal: "I never forget a face, but with you I'll make an exception"! "Bloodstains On The Wall" is a 1953 obscurity originally recorded by Frank 'Honeyboy' Patt, describing a murder scene, given a suitably menacing tone by the Bluetones.
Rusty provides two numbers: "Dream Girl" is a little different to the rest of the album, rockabilly with cajun accents and sung by Rusty in a lighter vocal style, Ray's harp sounding almost like an accordion to match the song; in contrast "Rusty Nail" is a powerful, chugging instrumental credited to Rusty and Neil whose drumming propels the tune. Little Junior Parker released "I'm Holding On" in 1959 and it suits the Bluetones well, with Ray's commanding vocal and Rusty's fluid solo; "You Got Me Wrong" is an obscure Billy Boy Arnold 'B'-side, classic Chicago blues. The album closes with a second instrumental, "Wait And Watch", this time written by Ray and Mudcat, a wistful tune which will recall those scenes in Westerns when the cowboy takes out his harmonica at the night time fireside.
Like every album they make, this one delivers great blues with no filler, making it one to find and treasure.
https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/sugar-ray-the-bluetones-blues-from-sibculo-album-review/

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Reseña de Blues Blast Magazine:
Ha pasado mucho tiempo desde Too Far From The Bar (2020), por lo que es maravilloso tener un nuevo álbum de uno de los grandes combos del blues. Sugar Ray Norcia y el baterista Neil Gouvin llevan tocando juntos desde los días de escuela y el bajista Michael 'Mudcat' Ward lleva muchos años en la banda, pero este es el primer álbum de los Bluetones para el experimentado guitarrista Rusty Zinn. Grabado durante tres relajados días en un pequeño estudio en Sibculo, Países Bajos, el álbum demuestra la facilidad con la que estos chicos tocan juntos. El material es mitad originales y mitad versiones, mezclando el sonido característico de la banda de blues de Chicago con elementos de cajun, rockabilly e incluso música de cowboys.
La armónica de Ray lidera el camino en su 'No More Chances', con toda la banda en perfecta sincronía mientras Rusty agrega un solo punzante. El estilo acompasado de Jimmy Reed se puede escuchar en 'High And Lonesome' (aunque la armónica de Ray es mucho más musculosa que la de Reed) antes de que Rusty demuestre su dominio del estilo de T-Bone Walker en 'Mean Old World', el corte más largo del álbum y uno de los mejores. 'Blind Date' es una canción que la banda ha grabado antes (en Seeing Is Believing de 2016); la versión aquí es más larga y realmente avanza con mucha armónica desde el principio, la sección rítmica sustentando todo, Rusty agregando bonitos arpegios detrás de la voz de Ray: "I never forget a face, but with you I'll make an exception"! "Bloodstains On The Wall" es una pieza oscura de 1953 grabada originalmente por Frank 'Honeyboy' Patt, que describe una escena de asesinato, a la que los Bluetones dan un tono adecuadamente amenazador.
Rusty aporta dos números: "Dream Girl" es un poco diferente al resto del álbum, rockabilly con acentos cajun y cantado por Rusty con un estilo vocal más ligero, la armónica de Ray sonando casi como un acordeón para complementar la canción; en contraste, "Rusty Nail" es un instrumental poderoso y traqueteante acreditado a Rusty y Neil cuya batería impulsa el tema. Little Junior Parker lanzó "I'm Holding On" en 1959 y le sienta bien a los Bluetones, con la voz imponente de Ray y el fluido solo de Rusty; "You Got Me Wrong" es una cara B oscura de Billy Boy Arnold, blues clásico de Chicago. El álbum cierra con un segundo instrumental, "Wait And Watch", esta vez escrito por Ray y Mudcat, una melodía melancólica que recordará esas escenas de westerns cuando el vaquero saca su armónica junto a la hoguera nocturna.
Como cada álbum que hacen, este entrega gran blues sin relleno, convirtiéndolo en uno para encontrar y atesorar.
https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/sugar-ray-the-bluetones-blues-from-sibculo-album-review/

Tracks:
1 - No More Chances
2 - High and Lonesome
3 - Mean Old World
4 - Blind Date
5 - Bloodstains on the Wall
6 - Dream Girl
7 - Rusty Nail
8 - I'm Holding On
9 - You Got Me Wrong
10 - Wait and Watch


Credits:
Sugar Ray Norcia - Vocals, Harmonica
Rusty Zinn - Guitar
Michael "Mudcat" Ward - Bass
Neil Gouvin - Drums

Produced by Bo Brocken
Mastering by Bo Brocken
Recorded April 2025 at a studio in Sibculo, Netherlands

Label: Natural Records
Country: US
Released: October 31, 2025
Genre: Blues
Style: Chicago Blues, Electric Blues
Duration: 40:33

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