Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

It was in 1980 that the Seventy Sevens first played 'Ping Pong Over The Abyss' and since then they have followed a long and winding road almost back to where they started. Only Mike Roe (guitar and vocals) remains from the original line up; he now plays with Mark Harmon (bass and vocals) and Bruce Spencer (drums and vocals). On their debut album, alluded to above, they closed with Washington Phillips' "Denomination Blues" showing an awareness of the past. Here, in 'Holy Ghost Building' they take a musical journey back to the blues. The album has a feel of the early Elvis or Johnny Cash going into the studio with their bands and playing their favourites while the tape keeps a-rollin'. So we revisit classics such as "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning" and "I'm Gone Run To The City Of Refuge" which give us a glimpse into the band's record collection and perhaps also into their very hearts. While the other band in which Mike Roe features, The Lost Dogs, take a more Americana/country approach, this is black blues-gospel played by white boys with affection and no little dexterity. In some ways, not dissimilar to the Kevin Max 'The Blood' set. But take care. The end of the CD has the haunting "A Lifetime Without You" which is as bleak as "I Could Laugh" from '77s' in 1986, but then good music isn't always easy listening.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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