Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Now based in the UK, Statesboro, Georgia-born troubadour Brooks Williams has had something of a prolific year with this the second of two albums in the space of just 12 months. In contrast to the full-banded 'My Turn Now', Williams has stripped things back to just him and his acoustic, resonator and cigar box guitars to cover a handful of his favourite blues songs. Williams' warm vocal delivery - full of character and pathos - matches the intimate feel of this record perfectly and he puts his own stamp on well-worn standards such as Little Walter's "My Babe" and Robert Johnson's "From Four Until Late". Elsewhere, Williams claims his birth right to perform Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" with authenticity whilst the general jolly delivery of these old classics are tempered by sincere readings of more thought-provoking numbers like "Backwater Blues" (Bessie Smith) and "Mother Earth" (Memphis Slim). A couple of gospel blues numbers - "On The Rolling Sea" and Reverend Gary Davis' "I Will Do My Last Singing" - round off another great release from the versatile Mr Williams.

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