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Rivers Johansson - Righteous Liar Album Review


'Righteous Liar' is the debut album of Hull based blues artist Rivers Johansson. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, just imagine what the love child of Johnny Depp and Ian Siegal would look and sound like.

The album opens with the title track: ''Righteous Liar'. After a solemn voice recites Revelation 13, a bold, staccato guitar riff emerges, before welcoming Johannson's gritty, suave vocals.



The second track on the album; 'The Escapist'; is my personal favourite. The song is fuelled by a clean yet oh so catchy blues riff and gradually crescendos into a rich full sound.  The harmonies and variations in pitch gives the track a sating depth and mirrors the clever yet unconvoluted nature of the lyrics. The line: 'I tried to placate the rain, no escape for me'; is particularly engaging and resonates beautifully.

'Hangman' is one of the more upbeat tracks on the album, driven by a gritty slide ring melody. The final line of the chorus ('I see them heavenly lights shining down, but the roots of the Devils tree run deep in the ground'); is gorgeously poignant and best showcases Johannson's flair for songwriting - so much so, that I can forgive the poor grammar used!
The song features the angelic (particularly in comparison to the rest of the music) vocals of Ming City Rocker's Sarah Shiels. She supplies the backing vocals on several of the tracks on the album, providing sweet yet evocative harmonies to the otherwise gutsy tunes.  Shiels also takes on the lead vocals in the haunting ballad  'Black Dog',  showcasing the extent of her powerful and bewitching voice.



'Devil in a Blue Dress' opts for a fast tempo and peppier guitar riff, with Johannson's and Shiels' synchronised vocals radiating a charming harmony, whilst delivering a somewhat twisted love song. The track emits a ballsy vibe whilst reciting infectiously catchy melodies. The lyrics of this track are really vivid, and the line: "she was hungry for love and I'm starving to death" is particularly poignant.

Overall, it is a superb album, full of gorgeous blues riffs, gritty narratives and rich harmonies that will enthrall all blues fans and convert those who have not discovered the joys of the blues. Johannson clearly knows what he is good at and sticks to it. The album has a comprehensive and quintessential sound, whilst remaining engaging and interesting to listen to.
 However, Johannson's live performances eclipse his recordings, with his enigmatic stage presence elevating his songs to a whole new level.


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