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Like the
blues, but want
something new? Erick Hovey’s Blues
Farm
cd is the album for you. Original
material, extremely well done, great to listen to.
Variety of tempos on different songs lets this CD stay in the player so
it
repeats several times before I go to the next one. It is really nice to
understand the vocal tracks, the mix doesn't overpower them. In fact
the sonics
are excellant and worth listening to because of the great mixing.
So far my favorites on this CD are Patchouli and Soda Pop Girl, but
only by a
slim margin. Track 10-Talkin about Love has me guessing if he was going
for
cajun or reggae rythym- both my feet are tappin in time so it could be
both.
I have his other three albums and can recommend them as well.
Amazon.com
review / Five Stars from Dave in WA
Erick
Hovey’s CD Blues
Farm is smooth, cool blues with a hip lounge sound in some tracks --Soda Pop Girl (track 3) might be the
coolest song ever about a designated driver—combined with
grinding guitar in
other tracks. Great swing that veers toward the blues.
Chris
Evans / WRUV / VT
Erick Hovey 'Blues Farm'
Its just less than 40 years since the release of JJ Cale's 'Naturally'.
And while it took rock fans a few years more to catch up on to the
septuagenarian's understated take on the blues, he perfected a style
that is as enduring as it is influential all these years later.
Of course for every JJ Cale there's a
coterie of
guitarists of a similar persuasion who prefer to eschew volume and
speed and blend together the more intricate parts of the blues
tapestry. Mid-Western blues guitarist Erick Hovey is undoubtedly one of
a kind, a player who celebrates the virtues of space, time and
presence. His latest 'Blues Farm' cd bears a title that is almost the
perfect metaphor for a hot house of the blues, developing the subtler
seeds of the genre in between the cracks.
More than that, Erick is someone who
is at ease with
himself. He seems to be aware of his limited vocal range, but he
doesn't worry about that as he lets his guitar do all the talking for
him holding an exquisite bluesy tinged conversation over some
smouldering fluid grooves and well crafted songs. Erick is a master of
rich tones and textures, sweet melodies, expressive phrasing, real feel
and always the blues.
And as he explores the blues in a
sultry meandering way
he's unafraid to take on board disparate influences from the almost
Skanking feel of 'Baby Come Home' to the Latino/Bossa beat of 'Running
With A Full Moon' as well as lovely diversions though shuffles and
muscular funk ('Going Down') to the belated twin guitar intro on the
cd's' outro. 'Can't Fall Down' is a succinct concluding guitar blow out
that suggests he can jam with the best of them.
'Blues Farm' is an understated work
of elegance and
poise and fluency. Where others overstate their abilities or resort to
cliché Hovey treads his own path. He may growl on 'Know Who You
Are', he may add a contrasting piercing guitar line to the laid back
shuffling stroll of 'Patchouli' and he may slip in a contrasting tone
on the gentle shuffle rhythm of 'Missing Part', but there's a signature
sound at play here. Erick Hovey's playing embodies a discernable voice
and a real unique feel for the blues that will surely gain him plenty
more fans.
**** (4/5) ©
www.getreadytorock.com
Review by Pete Feenstra / 7-5-10 / UK
Erick Hovey - Blues Farm
Erick Hovey debuts today on our radio, songs from his latest CD. The
album title has a close relationship with his daily activities, since
it is already the fifth-generation farmer operating a family farm in
Fort Dodge, Iowa. This CD is the fourth in his artistic achievements.
Erick is perfectly able to reconcile the work of the farmer and
musician. He has already accumulated a large group of fans. His
cheerful sounding tones are instantly well received.
delta.art.pl / Poland
Blues Farm Reviewed
By Richard Greaves / Blues In Britain Magazine
Erick Hovey is from Fort Dodge, Iowa
in the Midwest of
the USA. He combines being a farmer (5th generation) and a musician. He
is a singer and guitarist who started gigging when he was fourteen and
put out his first CD about fifteen years ago. He has released these two
CDs at the same time. I'm going to concentrate on Blues Farm which is
the more blues oriented of the two. All songs are original and there is
a core backing band of keyboards, bass, and drums together with
occasional horns.
The CD opens with "Ball And Chain", which has a slow, reggae-ish beat
and some really good spare and moody guitar work. And this sets the
scene for the whole album with tastey and often understated guitar work
rather than fret burning speed playing and high volume. "Know Who You
Are" is an up-tempo blues with horns and the one appearanceof a harp
player (who is good) and some tough guitar, really liked this one. A
complete change of style for "Soda Pop Girl" which is a 50s style swing
blues with piano and trumpet spot on. With the line "She likes driving,
I like drinking beer" this song hits the spot. Another of my favorites!
"Patchouli" chugs along nicely with some BB King style guitar. There is
a late night feel to the mainly acoustic "Running With A Full Moon".
"Fight That Monkey" is another highlight with a good guitar intro, nice
stop time, good lyrics, and topped off by tasty guitar throughout.
There are more good lyrics in "Baby Come Home" and then it's back to
that swing jazz style on "Missing Part" where again the band have it
nailed. Next another favorite, "I'm Through", which is a shuffle shot
through with good guitar work. The reggae style comes up again on
"Talkin Bout Love" and then it gets a bit more heavy on "Going Down"
which lyrics-wise borrows from "Going Down Slow". The CD rocks out with
"Can't Fall Down".
The backing musicians don't overplay and get it right for the style of
each tune. Erick has a good almost "smoky" voice and is a very tasteful
guitarist (think latter-day Eric Clapton for instance). A couple of the
reviews in the promo blurb call Erick a hidden gem of the US Midwest
and I can only concur. I really enjoyed these CDs.
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REAL BLUES TOP 100 BLUES, SOUL, GOSPEL & ZYDECO CDS
At number 40, Erick Hovey's 09 release "BLUES FARM"
Note: REAL BLUES 'Top Releases' charts are based on what
CD's, DVD's, Books we have
received in the previous 12 Calendar months. Like our Top 100 List all
have been graded as
'Highly Recommended Purchases' and all selections are based solely on
Artistic/Spiritual
Merit. Selections have already been reviewed or will be within the next
issue. This list is a
'Bribery-free' listing so you can 'take-it-to-the-bank'.
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Blues Farm is a soulful groove! *****
I thought the production details on Blues Farm were
stellar, as well as great care taken to the lyrics and music. Can't say
enough about Erick and his music, which I have followed for many years
now. Those of you who don't know this fifth-generation Fort Dodge, IA
farmer/musician will be dutifully impressed -
The songwriting, lyrics, production, and arrangements on "Blues Farm"
will have you hitting the replay button often. The great care in
details - guitar tones, the homage to different eras of blues and
blues-rock recording, insightful lyrics - all combine for a heady mix
of meaty, soulful grooves. Just goes to show you that Iowa boys play
their music card decks close to the vest until delivery - no boasting,
no grandstanding, just deliver the musical goods when needed.
And boy, this delivers!
Mick Polich / Muses Muse / Blue Collar Rockin
Erick Hovey has managed to build his own blues style.
You will discover some new elements on the Blues Farm cd that will
suprise you.
Miaden Loncar / soundgaurdian.com / Croatia
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BLUES FARM
All songs by Erick Hovey BMI © 2009
Recorded and mixed by Dan Lodden
Bunker 701 Studio, Humboldt, IA
Andy Blumenthal - Harmonica
Jeff Foreman - Drums
Al Foreman - Trumpet
Tom Gary - Keys
Erick Hovey - Guitars, Vocals
Heather Kelly - Vocals
Dan Lodden - Bass, Drums on track 7
Reason on tracks 1,2,3,8,&10
Special thanks to backing vocalists
Scott Dahl, Trevor Gould, Cole Harklau,
Sammi Johnson, Michelle and Sheila Mullen, Genni and Ribanna Pflug,
Jessica Webb
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