aaamusic | On 12, Oct 2013

Blues duo North Mississippi Allstars, brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, are the sons of late Memphis music icon Jim Dickinson. Their present musical style is a wild and rootsy  ‘primitive modernism’ which rejects hip-hop and indie rock. Reminiscent of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Junior Kimbrough, and Scrapomatict, they’re referred to as ‘Americana music luminaries’ by National Public Radio in the USA.

Their seventh studio album, World Boogie Is Coming, is released in the UK on 21^st October, 2013 on Songs Of The South/Thirty Tigers. It was produced at their own Zebra Ranch Studios in Hernando and at Memphis’ Royal Studios.

The album includes ‘Goat Meat’, featuring a guest appearance from Robert Plant on harmonica. The former Led Zeppelin singer originally invited NMA to open some shows on his solo tours and then dropped in unexpectedly when they recorded this latest album.

In this raw and gutsy song Robert  plays harmonica through a mic that once belonged to Al Green, the soul legend. It feels very traditional, but there’s great spontaneity and it evolves musically into something vibrant and refreshing. It’s almost as if the rustic hill country of Mississippi pulsates with life as blues legends from the past return to haunt the landscape.

★★★★★

Anthony Weightman