Sonny Landreth - From The Reach

US guitar genius Sonny Landreth is arguably the most respected slide player in the world today. I have long been aware of the man through numerous name checks from players such as Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler - through to cutting edge players like Brett Garsed and Guthrie Govan - but haven't listened in depth until his latest album 'From The Reach' dropped through the letterbox. This album features a truly stellar array of guests, including the aforementioned Clapton and Knopfler, as well as Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Jimmy Buffet and Vince Gill. With a line up like that you know you are going to be presented with the utter class...

Overview!

Opener 'Blue Tarp Blues' feature's Mark Knopfler on guitar and background vocals and is a great summation of the album as a whole. Sonny has crafted a collection of songs and instrumentals that highlight and pay respect to the respective guitar styles and musical legacies of the guests, but also flow cohesively as a whole. This album never falls into the trap that so many other guest laden affairs have done, in which a variety of disparate songs are nothing more than springboards for whoever is guesting on the track. Each song clearly spotlights the guest players, and provides ample space for their playing, but are also each valid, elegant and superbly crafted examples of Americana, spanning country, rock, roots music and blues in a wholly satisfying collection.

Highlights abound - Knopfler's rich tone and melodicism shine on the aforementioned track, Clapton plays with real fire and elegance on 'When I Still Had You' and the balladic 'Storm Of Worry', Eric Johnson is otherworldly on the suitably cosmic 'The Milky Way Home' and Robben Ford and Vince Gill make multiple appearances and are supremely smooth and sophisticated throughout.

Always floating above this are the unique stylings of Landreth - just when you thought he can't get any better, any more evocative, he delivers the sucker punch and slays you with his sheer tone and takes things to the next level.

Conclusion

Some long term fans have bemoaned that this album is an overtly 'commercial' lightweight pandering to a broader market - and there is no doubt that he will pick up on many new fans due to the guest artists. But, all I can say is if this is Sonny-lite then I for one cant wait to sample the full strength version!

Highly, highly recommended for guitarists and fans of quality music of all persuasions. Put this on and drift away over the bayou...