Marc Ford And The Neptune Blues Club - The Vulture (2016)

"The Neptune Blues Club, recorded their debut album in 2009, which rose to number 15 on the blues charts and stayed there for several weeks.
The band consists of Mike Malone (vocals, harp, keys), John Bazz (bass), Anthony Arvizu (drums) and Mark Ford. In this team, Mr. Ford unties himself on his magic guitar, showing his fantastic skills with the instrument and performing soulful, straight-up soulful compositions.
"Vulture" was recorded on analog tape and mixed by John Vanderslide's Tiny Telephone Studios located in one of the districts of San Francisco. Vulture presents Ford's work from the best side, showing a wonderful musicality, memorable lyrics and a great musical mood.
Ford explained the moral character of these new compositions as follows: "If the Holy Spirit descended on Sunday morning, then Vilture was here on Saturday night ... "
The album opens with a song - ”Devil's In the Details” - in which Ford shows himself from the best side, his strong and powerful guitar sets the mood and leads the rest of the musical system. Ford looks like Clint Eastwood with a guitar. The well-crafted “The Same Coming Up "in one minute and fifty seconds, is a downhill rock and roll." All We Need To Do Is Love " sends listeners into pastoral relaxation. “This Ride "just gives the listeners a proper "get off". The title track has a signature handwriting and snakebite guitar Ford, particularly successful lyrics, expressing the truth uncovered about the current Genesis (captions songs don't translate, because not a lyric, but it is somewhat similar to the protest captions Pink Floyd album Animals, but without the zoo... ). "Arkansas Gas Card" serves as a concert of a starry room with sheen presented before a live audience. "Old Lady Sunrise" sounds like a low-country swamp, like some vintage STAX refractive records, like precious stones. The Christian spirit is imbued with " Deep Water”, the problems of purgatory, the tossing of the spirit and the choice of the true path."Shalimar Dreams" adds a great sound to the mix of R & B, rock and roll, mesmerizing the listener. And the last track “ "Girl of Mine", is a deeply lyrical song performed by Ford with dense vocals against the background of an airy - minimalist musical accompaniment.
This album is a landmark for Mark Ford. Over the years, he has created his own stellar sound that meets all the tough standards of craftsmanship. "Vulture" represents another milestone in Mark Ford's inimitable musical journey ... "
[free translation of the article by James Calemine]