The real deal
S. Petrica | Bethesda, MD USA | 02/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow, this is the real deal -- back-country Black gospel, emerging out of the depths of hard lives lived in the light of faith. You can't contrive or make up the spirit that animates these artists.
Aside from the value of this music in itself, it really helps put classical blues and soul into a sociocultural context.
If heart speaks to heart, you can't help but open yourself up to this!"
COMO NOW-A CAPPELLA VOICES OF PANOLA COUNTY
Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 12/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One disc 56 minutes approximately. Recorded live-but the sound is very good. This is a collection of songs sung without any other instrumentation other than the human voice. In this day and age it is certainly an anomaly-what with digital electronics altering any sound in the recording process. This is honest music sung with great conviction and intensity. Sometimes almost scarily so. Nothing fancy,the mics were set up in a church and the word put out that anyone who could sing should come on in. The people of this area are deeply religious in their convictions and it shows.
For those of you who are familiar with blues music,this is the area where "Mississippi" Fred McDowell hailed from,as well as Otha Turner-the fife maker and player,among others. Whether a solo voice,two or more voices,or the call and response of voices-these songs are truly alive with intense feeling. No matter what your religious convictions may be,this is music on a different level than what is being released today. This collection can be enjoyed by anyone who likes good,honest,unpretentious music. Having heard a number of releases on Daptone Records I had a feeling that this would be a real discovery-I wasn't wrong! This label is releasing soul/r&b albums that can stand against just about anything else,past or present.
About as close as I can come to a comparison in intensity for this set,is the box set of Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. However,this is not even that "slick" in the arrangements or production. This is honest music put out by honest people and it shows. The enclosed booklet gives a nice overview of the music and the people who sing it. Look for complete albums by a number of these people in the near future."