Reviewed by Tony Cummings

If Mike Rimmer's extensive interview with this Nashville blues phenomenon has already whetted your appetite no doubt you're taking steps to locate this gem. If, on the other hand, General Gypsy Carns is a new name to you I can do no better than to quote from Blues Review: "Gypsy Carns, a one-man wrecking crew who plays a 'stompbox' tambourine/kick drum combination, harp, 12-string resonator guitar.this is hammering, powerful stuff, driven by Carns' energy and rough-hewn vocals." This album, cut live in the studio - usually in one take - is grittily cathartic and truly moving as Carns' gargling-gravel voice and searing slide guitar bring new life to the old, old story. It's also something of a musical history lesson as Gypsy plucks gems from the ancient repertoire of Rev Edward W Clayborn, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev Pearly Brown, Blind Willie Johnson and others interspersed with a few hard hitting Carns originals like "Dark Eternally" and "Satan Don't Pay No Bills". Timeless stuff.

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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