RACHELLE COBA
MOTHER BLUES
MONO RECORDS
NEVER BEEN TO MEMPHIS–AIN’T GOT TIME (TO FALL IN LOVE)–WORRIED BLUES–BETWEEN THE TRACKS–CHICAGO–TELEPHONE SONG–MOTHER BLUES–A MAN LIKE YOU–VIEW FROM HERE–LET YOUR LOVE SHINE–BONUS TRACKS: NEVER BEEN TO MEMPHIS (REMIX)–BETWEEN THE TRACKS (REMIX)
Rachelle Coba is no stranger to the blues. She began as a classical guitarist, but soon adapted that finger-picking style to a blues career. Since then, she has backed players such as Albert Castiglia and Super Chikan, and served as Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s music director. And, amongst all those things, she somehow found the time to write and record her solo debut for Mono Records, “Mother Blues.”
Rachelle wrings all kinds of emotion out of her Strat with those talented fingers, and has a sweet-and-sassy voice that we immediately fell in love with! And, she covers just about every genre’ one can imagine over the course of these ten originals, with two bonus tracks remixed.
She sings in the opener that she’s “Never Been To Memphis,” but you’d never know it from listening to the next cut, “Ain’t Got Time.” Her guitar leads recall the soulful strut of the legendary Stax Studio, and the backing vocal chorus adds to the authenticity. Want a little jazz? Then check out the brush-stroked drums backing Rachelle’s understated guitar in “Worried Blues” and the tale of “A Man Like You,” who’s an irresistible heartbreaker!
Rachelle’s voice and guitar are the only sounds in the Delta-styled “View From Here,” with a wee touch of gospel. She tears up the strings in the slash-and-burn slow-blues of “Telephone Song,” as she can never seem to get a straight answer from her lover, who’s always “busy with a friend or two!”
We had several favorites, too. She rocks the house on that leadoff cut, stating that she’s been all over the world, but “Never Been To Memphis,” and, thus, haas a “great big hole in my soul!” A freight train is the metaphor for love in the somber, poignant, “Between The Tracks,” and it’s the one train that everyone wants to ride! And, the title cut is a sho’ nuff history lesson in four minutes. “Mother Blues” is the “mother of all music,” from Dixieland to jazz to R & B and everything in between!
It’s hard to fathom that a player as talented as Rachelle Coba has never recorded previously. But, after hearing “Mother Blues,” we are sure she will have a legion of fans clamoring for more!! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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