Link Wray - Shadowman

 Of course, I've been a huge Link Wray fan ever since I discovered him in the 70's and loved his revered, distorted, simple-yet-fierce guitar style. He has recorded countless albums over the years, of varying quality, but usually worthwhile, and this 1997 release (recorded in 1995) is certainly right up there with his best since the 50's!

Here the man is joined by a simple backing band of Eric Greevers on bass and Vox organ and Rob Louwers on drums as he runs through numbers that have all the hallmarks of his classic cuts but are still as potent as anything released today. He opens with a takeoff on his most famous number, this one called "Rumble on the Docks" - a variation on the "Rumble" theme but different enough to be original. But, love the guitar sound and the reverb, tremelo and feedback are perfect! With only one lung, Link doesn't always handle vocals, but he has a fine voice and it intertwines with piercing guitar lines in his tribute to "Heartbreak Hotel" - much more vicious than Elvis' version and with a ferocious solo - then he revisits his old "Geronimo" with plenty of riffin' power, and the heavy guitar work continues behind the vocals in "Young Love".

The instrumentals return in the "Pipeline"-esque (with Link's own signature, of course, and a surprise organ solo!) "Moped Baby", followed by an inspired choice of cover, CCR's "Run Through the Jungle" (certainly influenced by Link in the first place), before Wray gets a bit pensive'n'quiet for a simple guitar'n'vocal take on "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)". Back to the high energy with "Night Prowler", another relentless instro with all of his trademarks intact, Louwers' snare rolls powers into "It Was So Easy", another vocal number kinda sounding like a heavy Buddy Holly, spiraling into a punk-rock-speed instro "Timewarp/Brain Damage", where Link steals from himself while also flying over the fingerboard with wild riffs and plenty of sustain'n'feedback, alternating with drums breaks, and speaking of, the next title is "Listen to the Drums" which does highlight Louwers once again while the vocal melody is somewhat reminiscent of the Stones' "No Expectation", of all things, although still savage in its performance, before they end with the title cut, an atmospheric instro with plenty of clever twists'n'turns'n'dynamics - another fine performance!

This is a damn great release! Excellent backing from Louwers and Greevers and Link's playing is at least as good as it has ever been! Get it if ya don't have it!