Black Cat Oil, the new release from Atlanta quartet Delta Moon, seeps in and gets under your skin with its infectious groove and delicious retro sound that finds its way to your very soul. The guitar duo of Tom Gray and Mark Johnson have been together for over a decade now and have honed their partnership of mixing authentic roots riffs and sweet slide guitar sounds to perfection.
They are backed up by Franher Joseph on upright bass and the clever pots-and-pans approach to trap kit from Marlon Patton, helping them create a blues infected swamp rock stew. The 11-song set was recorded live with few overdubs at Bakos Amp Works using vintage gear with delightful earthy results, but without sacrificing clarity.
The10 original songs, mainly written by Grey, have a familiar feel and are a loving tribute the American songwriting tradition, all delivered with his gravely vocals reminiscent of Ry Cooder or Warren Zevon. You will quickly be singing the lines of “Blues in a Bottle,” “Black Cat Oil,” and “Jukin” after a few listens as if you’ve known them for years. Fans of superb guitar tone and swampy blues rock will love this album.
Originally Published in Innocent Words Aug 2012
Rick J Bowen
