Carrying on the Family Groove
Michael Elliott
Posted On September 18, 2018
When writer Robert Palmer’s film Deep Blues (building upon his classic book of the same name) was released in 1991, it revealed the blues of the North Mississippi hill country to the world. It’s the first time most audiences outside the region had been exposed to the likes of Junior Kimbrough, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Big Jack Johnson, and R.L. Burnside, among others.
Many of these artists would be signed to Fat Possum Records within the next few years, and a market for the droning, hypnotic, often one-chord, deeply sexual grooves from the hill country opened up, inspiring groups like the Black Keys to build upon this type of music and promote it worldwide.
Now Cedric Burnside, the grandson of R.L., brings it all back home with Benton County Relic, named for both his home base and how he sees himself. Though it was recorded in drummer Brian Jay’s Brooklyn home studio, the sound is all North Mississippi hill country; dirty, gritty, droning distortion.
Benton County Relic finds drummer Burnside stepping out from behind the kit and strapping on an electric guitar. The hill country groove is so ingrained in his DNA, it can’t help but flow from his fingers onto the strings just as it does onto the skins.
Opening track “We Made It” sets the tone of the album with Burnside using the guitar as an additional percussive instrument, grooving along on one chord as the drums keep it simple and in the pocket so as not to distract from the mood being conjured. “Typical Day” sports a surprisingly hummable hook, and the groove deepens into a late-night erotic sway during “Give It to You.” “Hard to Stay Cool” borrows as much from John Lee Hooker as it does from Kimbrough and the elder Burnside. The acoustic is brought out for the persuasive, longing “There Is So Much,” adding a welcome touch of variety within the glorious murk of the rest of the album.
Closing track “Ain’t Gonna Take No Mess” is the most blatant example of inspiration doubling back on itself. It’s the sound of North Mississippi being influenced by the Black Keys and the White Stripes.
Benton County Relic continues Cedric Burnside’s exploration of the deep blues in his bloodline, and at the same time, successfully builds upon the storied North Mississippi hill country blues tradition.
