Since 1994, Geoff Achison has been busy and now has a good handful of work to his credit including two powerful live recordings. Chasing My Tail, his latest, was recorded between January and July of 2002 and offers more of his blues-infused guitar and gritty vocals. The 55-minute disc begins with a loping Southern soul feel on "Chance" with a crackling horn section while Achison's guitar weaves soulful licks around a voice that may remind some of Joe Cocker. "Kerry Lou" works off a relaxed shuffle with fine piano from Mal Logan while "Begging Bowl" is enticing with thick acoustic guitar and nice percussive efforts from Andy Swann and the mojo kicks in for "Find Yourself A Fool," but the title track is a slice of rocking blues with more good piano and fat organ underneath the thundering feel. For "Me And My Baby," the pace takes a breather, then a blue and moody "Reason To Live," sweltering with some mysterious guitar sounds and soulful horns, but "Let It Happen" sounds like something from Earth, Wind, And Fire with corny horn charts. "Kissing Angels" contains violin, viola, and cello, courtesy of 'Classically Blue' but it's Gregg Allman's "Whipping Post" that is the hands-down winner here. Achison offers a simply masterful rendition with strings delving in and out of the jagged groove and it also features what could be the disc's best vocal. While Chasing My Tail won't win any awards with blues purists, there's a certain level of authenticity to everything here and although his range as a vocalist is somewhat limited, the feeling he packs into each cut is undeniable. If you've enjoyed the work of Kelly Joe Phelps, give Geoff Achison a try... you won't be disappointed.
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