WOLF MAIL – Above The Influence

Shane | 18 September 2013 | Reply

ZKS Records, August 2013
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

Initial confusion aside after the track listing and the running order differ as to which song is meant to be where, Canadian Wolf Mail’s sixth studio album nestles in quickly and makes itself at home like an old friend.

As Wolf howls (sorry…) on opener You Move Me, you know this man touches the blues more than most – it’s in his soulful voice and his fluid playing, so influenced by the likes of Elmore James, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

A cover of Buddy Guy’s Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues brings a soulful sadness to the song, while the soloing in Undone is tremendously heartwarming. On Still Don’t Know he picks notes that almost move the listener to tears.

The boy can play, I tells ya, and it’s no wonder seeing as the 41 year old picked up the guitar aged ten and has been pro since 14.

The secret’s in singing through the guitar and echoing that with the vocal, and Wolf Mail has that down, delivering a warm and expressive record that will not fail to thaw even the coldest of hearts.

https://www.facebook.com/wolfmailmusic

http://www.wolf-mail.com