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Dirty Dave Osti: Midnight Mojo Man

With an album called Midnight Mojo Man, you know we have to headed right back into the belly of hard rocking blues goodness otherwise known as Grooveyard Records. This time it’s Dirty Dave Osti taking up the good fight, as the seasoned fretsmith offers up another classy slice of guitar-fuelled hard rock. However, what sets Dirty Dave apart from the many is, ironically, his supremely clean and smooth guitar style. The solo on opening cut, “Bad Blood” a sublime example of how he gets his message across without the need for flashy pyrotechnics. Instead caressing the frets, even when he’s hammering out a stinging slew of notes.

Impressively Dirty Dave does everything himself, all aspects of this album from bass and drums to vocals and production all handled by the guitarist. With all bar two of the songs also coming from his hands, Midnight Mojo Man really is a one mojo-man operation. But unlike most albums created in solitary confinement, the beauty here is that whether through the nuanced hi-hat work, or sympathetic bass runs, MMM sounds like it was brought to life by a band ��" and one that’s been together for many a year. Although, I suppose, in a sense, this ‘band’ has been together since the day Dave Osti was born!

The two non-Osti written tracks appear in the guise of the Russ Ballard penned “Liar”, which was made famous in the mid-70s by Three Dog Night; the guitarist thoroughly revelling in its chiming melody and deep groove. Whereas “Walk Before You Run”, by Savoy Brown, proves perfect not just for Osti’s deep bluesy hard rock style, but also for his gravel-laden, lived in voice. I think Dave would even agree that he’ll never be the world’s best singer, but if you’re looking for a storyteller, then he’s your man. Something that becomes all too apparent on the hard rock lullaby “Divide It By Two”, the shuffle and tussle of “Rebel Run” and the insistently driven “River Dog”, with all three burying deep into the mind and proving impossible to root out.

As you’d expect, it’s the guitar that’s the star throughout, the ZZ Top like instrumental “Spacewolf” one of the album’s best illustrations of how Dirty Dave adds all manner of flicks and tricks, without ever leaving you feeling like you’re knee deep in some instructional DVD. Something that the rich riff of “Pusha Man” and poised, yet brooding album closing title track, confirm and then some.

There are few guitarists out there offering up the sort of believable, honest, heartfelt grooves that Dirty Dave Osti always seems to have, literally, at his finger tips. Midnight Mojo Man is yet another prime example and confirms DDO as one of the most under-sung axe men around.


Track Listing
1. BAD BLOOD

2. BE THE LOVE

3. PUSHA MAN

4. WALK BEFORE YOU RUN

5. DIVIDE IT BY TWO

6. LIVE OR DIE FREE

7. REBEL RUN

8. RIVER DOG

9. SPACEWOLF

10. LIAR

11. TAKE THE HEAT OFF

12. MIDNIGHT MOJO MAN

Added: September 7th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Midnight Mojo Man at The Grooveyard
Hits: 3466
Language: english

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