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‘Where Are You Now? is the latest album from UK blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Clare Free, her first since the release of the acclaimed ‘Dust And Bones’ back in 2012. After taking some time out, Free returns to a genre which has grown rapidly in the UK and Europe with Joe Bonamassa holding the door open for artists such as Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor and King King to pile on through.
There are elements of each of these performers featured throughout ‘Where Are You Now?’, with the added bonus of a Beth Hart-like honest rawness, especially on a track such as ‘Scars’. Coupled with a warm, fat, fuzzy guitar sound from Free, ‘Scars’ is one of those rare tracks which makes the listener care about the protagonist in the song, makes them wonder about how they came to where they are. It also has the head bobbing involuntarily, thanks to a towering drum sound. Before ‘Scars’ though there is the instantly pleasing title track, a few minutes of guitar joy upon which, if the intention was to signal “I’m back…”, then it certainly works. The solos from Free are fantastic and wrap the listener up with each lick. The dust has hardly had time to settle before some neat blues harmonica shepherds in the shuffling, foot-tapping ‘Did The Right Thing’, and again, the solos are lush.
‘She Can’t Buy’ takes a turn in a different direction, and goes down a lighter, poppier route, bringing back memories of when Sharleen Spiteri and Texas were an arena headlining band (as do parts of ‘Let Me Down Easy’). The album changes direction again with the gorgeous ‘Thank You’, a classic acoustic-driven singer-songwriter moment in the Joni Mitchell/Carly Simon mould; a stunning few minutes. ‘Gimme Rock ‘n’ Roll’ ups the energy, but it’s ‘Bitch’ and ‘Nice Girls’ that take the baton and run the crucial last lap. Gritty, organic vocals from Free, and guitar tones to die for. The band are on fire throughout the album, but here, they really spread their wings and let it rip.
The blues-rock marketplace, although heavily saturated to an extent, is a healthy one. It also has quite a loyal fanbase, and chances are that you’ll see many of the same faces at each gig. Fads may come and go, but the average blues-rock fan seems to be in it for life. Hence, Clare Free should find that the audience is still there irrespective of any period of inactivity. The quality (and variety) of the material on ‘Where Are You Now’ is deserving of a place in the collection of any self-respecting blues-rock fan.
Available now, more information here.
Review – Dave
