Night and Day - Outside Music
The godfather raps jail-time, cash and politics, in a way, only a man of his experience and particular lifestyle can.
Well into his seventies now, Andre Williams finds himself backed by a smooth ride with the “more than capable,” Toronto's Sadies.
Williams' history dates way back to crafting songs for Detroit's Fortune Records in the 1950s, which holds not only a raw motor city endorsement, but also explains why he can certainly turn a lyric and pull out a song in the toughest of times.
Running through tracks, there is something oddly familiar about the genre cut ups. With a turn of the sleeve, this all explained by a credentialed list of the the likely proprietors of punk blues, dirty Detroit and wayward rockabilly. Along with The Sadies, enter, Jon Spencer of JSBX who is credited with musical direction. Heavy Trash partner Matt Verta-Ray, Jon Langford of the Mekons, Detroit's Danny Kroha of the Gories and Demolition Dollrods are on guitar. Not to mention Sally Timms and Kelly Hogan on vocals.
As the title hints, Williams' content can easily slip from dark to light and back again. The album opens with a street-talking Williams but the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets, right up to “That's My Desire.” Followed by an infectious hipshaking track, “Me & My Dog” but in the end, the protagonist is only to be left lonesome with his favourite mutt amidst such an upbeat number. One can only speculate a good quip and sly sense of humour with the final sequencing.
An album for inside fans? Perhaps not, take it as a back door invitation to a party that will introduce you to some of the most interesting music and players of the last 60 years.
- tiina.l
