“hole_dave”
Dave Hole
Under the Spell
Alligator
The more I learn about the blues, the more I realize how much I don’t know. That is the case with Under the Spell , because it is Dave Hole’s fifth release for Alligator Records, and marks the first time I’ve heard this fine musician. Hole plays electric, contemporary blues, along the lines of John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton’s excellent From the Cradle . Hole’s intricate guitar playing creates a spacious effect throughout the album, and can easily make the transition from a backup instrument to being the forefront of the song. The one exception to the guitar-driven sound of Under the Spell is “Lost At Sea,” a subtle ballad in which he delicately picks at the strings while singing about the longing in his heart. This is a good album indeed; I’m looking forward to hearing his earlier material.
Alligator Records, Box 60234, Chicago, IL 60660; http://www.alligator.com
