Big Moon Ritual

The only way i can describe 'Big Moon Ritual' is cosmic American music. Obviously influenced by large helpings of The Grateful Dead, The Band and The Allman Brothers with a touch of The Doors, you get the idea. And not forgetting that it's headed up by the genius that is Chris Robinson, of The Black Crowes. I wouldn't call this a solo album though, as it's all about The Brotherhood. On paper, seven songs clocking in at an hour might sound like some peoples version of hell, but it's to the band's credit that at no point does it drag or become self-indulgent. A year on the road before hitting the studio to record the album has paid dividends. The great Neal Casal's(check out his solo albums) lead guitar is tasteful, and with all the room to work in, still subtle and sympathetic. Whilst Adam MacDougall, on keys, brings his box of tricks, reminding me of Garth Hudson's work in The Band. There's not much to say other than The Brotherhood are a great band and 'Big Moon Ritual' is a fine debut album.

This is an hugely enjoyable "solo" album from the fomer Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson, He has one of the greatest rock' n' blues voices in the business and sounds like he is having a "high' old time surrounded by a bunch of seasoned musicians who clearly have sampled some otherworldly inspiration to produce a set of seven tracks with the shortest clocking in at 7.08 minutes. The new outfit backing him includes former Crowes members as well as guitarist Neil Casal from Ryan Adams' band The Cardinals. The latter did a fair share of homages to the music of the Grateful Dead when he was with Adams not least a great version of "Wharf Rat" which they regularly played live. Equally Chris Robinson has been joined on stage by the Dead's Bob Weir in European festivals and thus it is no surprise that it is to the inspirers of Ben and Jerry's greatest ice cream that he has turned for his primary inspiration with "Big Moon Ritual". The kick off track the excellent "Tulsa yesterday" has those lifting and effortless Jerry Garcia style guitar runs which centred on melody rather than showy theatrics. It could have happily fitted on the jazzy improvisation of the Dead's "Wake of the flood" and is nearly 12 minutes of cosmic style jamming interspersed with Robinson excellent vocals. It is followed by the rambling and powerful "Rosalee" where the band break at 6 minutes to chant the "airs getting thinner, are we are getting high". in this reference you suspect that Robinson et al might not be referring to altitude sickness and the track pile drives out over a frantic funky backdrop to its conclusion. Check the band perform this on the Jay Leno show and try not be struck by the feeling that you have harked back in time travel to the heyday of 70s Southern Rock as the screen fills with long hair and even longer beards. The pace slows for the bluesy ballad "Star or stone" which is matched latter by the even better tender ballad "Reflections on a broken mirror" where Robinson voice is worth the price of entry alone. "Tomorrows blues" evoking memories of the Allman Brothers with its dual guitar play and extended workout.

You probably get the drift by now of the shape of this album and frankly if your not a fan of extended jams or free flowing psychedelic soloing "Big Moon Ritual" will irritate you like a plague of Midges in the Scottish Highlands. The swirling cosmic concluding track "One hundred days of rain" probably takes the prize as the strongest song in the entire set and is a fitting conclusion to nearly 60 minutes of fine music. For those expecting anything like the R'n'B rock outs of the Crowes debut album please go elsewhere, indeed there are a few occasions when you feel that a little less length and a bit more punchy economy would have served up a better result. These are however minor qualms since "Big moon ritual" transports you back to those pre punk days of the Grateful Dead, Little Feat and Quicksilver Messenger Service where "going off on one" was positively encouraged and a weed inspired spirit of adventure fuelled some fine expansive music. It is said that the band recorded 27 songs in this session and that another album will arrive later this year. If they follow the same template employed here you had better clear a couple of months to fit it in and cancel Christmas!

Fantastic album full of great tracks.Chris Robinson goes from strength to strength.Love his later Black Crowes stuff and this is an album which should delight his long time fans as well as some newer devotees.Highly recommended.