As his friends and fans will know, Mike Ross has been hard at work making music as a solo artist for several years now, releasing top quality albums that have outshone many of his contemporaries. Now, ahead of a change in musical direction, he is about to release 'Electric Smoke', his final album under his own name.
Opening with ‘Better Days’ the album leads the listener into an Americana infused song inspired by the day to day existence of the working class man/blue collar worker. Followed immediately by the slower ‘Keep Going’, both songs highlight the ruthlessness of life’s daily grind combined by the need to keep striving to survive.
Ross is a long-time fan of the Allman brothers and his slide guitar playing washes over ‘Electric Smoke‘ in a way that would make the late Duane Allman proud. Just listen to the melodic ‘Come Away’, where Ross shares vocals with Lindsey Bonnick of Brave Rival, all underpinned by some of Ross’s most soulful slide playing.
The brooding blues of ‘Sweet Wine’ and ‘Bus Blues’ are immediate attention grabbers in which Ross’s guitar playing reaches right into your soul.
Ross plays every instrument on this album with the exception of drums and for that role he’s drafted in the very talented Darren Lee. Indeed, if this is as planned, Ross’s final solo album then it truly is a solo effort.
‘Magic Bullet’ has shades of another of Ross’s influences. This time it’s the Black Crowes and once again his searing slide guitar skills are at the fore, While ‘The Devil’ is a classic rocking tune in the vein of classic ACDC.
Mike Ross is a talent that rises with each album he releases. And, ‘Electric Smoke’ with it’s self-composed and played mix of blues and rock enhances an already strong reputation as an accomplished musician, composer and singer.
Folk and Tumble have reviewed and listened to a lot of Mike Ross’s records over the years and ‘Electric Smoke’ is without doubt one of, if not, his best.
Ross is currently on tour in Europe and ticket and venue information can be found online.
‘Electric Smoke’ is available to pre-order on double coloured vinyl and digital format from Mike’s Online shop. And then buy a ticket and go see him live.