| New Jersey roots music maestro Trevor B. Power has fully embraced the “Wall of Sound” aesthetic on his latest release, Are We Ever Free; a collection of eleven new original tracks that run the gamut of raucous roadhouse blues, sweet introspective American horn driven R&B, and four on the floor rock ‘n’ roll. Power has a lot to say about the current state of the nation and doesn’t pull any punches expressing his world view on a range of timely topics via poignant pointed prose that is both intellectual and accessible with sing along hooks and easy melodies. To achieve this, Power enlisted longtime friend and New York Blues Hall of Famer Dave Fields as coproducer to record his third studio album at Farm189 Studios in Califon, NJ. A-list drummer, Steve Holley, known for his work with Paul McCartney & Wings, was brought in to anchor the sessions and fuel the players who included Anthony Krizan on drums, guitar and vocals, Tom Dicianni on drums, Bob Lanza and Charlie Macarone on guitar, Tim Timko and Baron Raymonde on saxophone, Will Wilde on harmonica, The Califon Chiswick Singers with Power and Fields dropping in various other instruments for good measure.
The opener “ Let Yourself Fly,” takes cues from the E Street Band playbook, with dueling sax and guitar lines over a pulsating rhythm and soaring vocals. The horn section takes control of the bumping classic R&B number with a hint of Stones bravado on “Lady Luck.” The rumbling rocker, “Mystery,” asks a bunch of hard questions emphasized by Wilde’s greasy blues harp. He delivers some historical perspective on the orchestral title track “Are We Ever Free,” and he pulls no punches on the Humpty Dumpty shuffle “Going To Washington;” its cutting lyrics matching the scalding blues licks, a great single release for an election year.
Power offers up an examination of a life lived to the fullest on the rolling thunder sermon “Mistakes,” and sings the praises of his beloved convertible “TR3,” after immortalizing her on the album cover. The acoustic driven “Come On Now,” tackles one of the toughest issues facing us today – the epidemic of homelessness and challenges us all to” help our sisters and brothers.” The bump and grind blues “Trouble To The Core,” is a classic tale of a man done wrong drowning his sorrows with whiskey-soaked guitar riffs. Power praises the strength of optimism during the lush tome “The Noose,” and how life is long and can be full of surprises if you let it. After ten quality tracks Power lets loose with one more politically charged rocker “Man Goes Blind,” that is equal parts punk and gospel and thoroughly filled with spit and vinegar.
Rick J Bowen |
