David M’ore 2015
Passion, Soul & Fire
San Fran guitar slinger ignites his engine and rambles on but not without an occasional stray into wilderness.
Seeing himself as a mythical mover who channels the spirits of yore, David M’ore walks a thin line between hard rock and blues, and does that with much gusto – when not haunted by the past but inhabiting his own time and space. This album has a lot of its title’s promise – given a muscular realization in a trio format – and David’s roar on the loose likes of “The Devil’s Land” is arresting, as is his filigree dance on the fretboard, yet, while the 10-minute “You Said You Love Me” serves as a celebration of sustain in the strings and vocals departments, some cuts bear too much of the artist’s formative influences.
Thus, if the Bach-via-Blackmore homage in “Johan Sebastian Blues” is rather explicit, with the off-the-cuff take on DEEP PURPLE’s “Mistreated” added as a bonus, Bernie Marsden‘s riff under “Love Again” undercuts the ballad’s sentiment… unless it’s not a continuation of “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City.” None of it matters, though, once country licks start to crawl under “Sweet Little Baby” for the speakers to shiver and shake and an axe rage to shape an Eastern motif out of desperation, before acoustic strum turns into electric strains on “Cold Blooded” and wah-wah kicks in.
Still, it’s “Funk It Up” that’s a showcase for the full scope of M’ore’s talent: a fusion-leaning performance with shredding hinted at but kept in check, the piece may open a whole new vista for the artist. May passion light his way.
***1/2
