Friday 27 December 2013

BLODWYN PIG REVIEW

Blodwyn Pig

Pigthology

Review by G. W. Hill
This compilation album from Blodwyn Pig is interesting. I know they are considered a blues band, and some of this is purely blues, but overall, I think they fit under prog. In part because some of the music fits that category, but also because of the Jethro Tull connection. Mick Abrahams was the original guitarist in Tull. 

The disc is quite good, but there is a problem with the label. There are twelve songs listed, but only eleven here. It seems that “Hound Dog” is missing.
Track by Track Review
See My Way
It’s not hard to imagine the Jethro Tull connection here. This feels a lot like early Tull, but without Ian Anderson. It’s jazzy and rocks pretty well. The vocals are a little hard to take, and the cut feels a bit under-developed, but it’s good. We’re taken out into a killer progressive rock jam later that really works well. It has some violin work that brings some world music to the table, too.
Baby Girl
This energized tune is great. It’s got an older blues rock meets jazz sound to it. I love the saxophone solo and it’s just an awesome piece of music. This is fun. It does get turned more proggy at times, feeling perhaps just a bit like King Crimson in those instances.
Dear Jill
Now, this is weird. It seems like a slow Willie Nelson ballad. The instrumental sections later in the piece do have some psychedelia and prog in them, though. And, in some ways this has some things that feel a bit like early Pink Floyd.
Monkinit
This is awesome. Jazz, blues and more are combined into a killer psychedelic progressive rock jam. I love this. It’s an instrumental and arguably the strongest thing here.
Drive Me
More of a blues driven tune, this rocker has a definite 1970s vibe to it. It’s got some great guitar soloing. It’s a short number.
The Change Song
Now, this one is pretty much a pure blues cut. It’s an acoustic number and has some string accompaniment. That said, comparisons to some early Hawkwind wouldn’t be out of the question on this live number.
Cosmogification
Smoking hot jazz rock is heard on this. It’s got a great groove. We’re taken out into a jam with scat singing matched to guitar soloing. This is purely on fire and another highlight of the set. 
Same Old Story
I can hear comparisons to Hawkwind a little on this. That said, this is like a jazzy psychedelic rocker that works really well.
Sly Bones
This short instrumental is more pure blues.
It's Only Love
With lots of jazz and lots energy, this short rocker is fun.
Stormy Monday
This is an old jazz standard and it’s delivered as a great blues jam here. It’s a good tune, but it goes on a bit long for as little change as there is here.

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