
Son of Dave – Call Me King
Goddamn Records (SODCD005) – 8 April 2022
You are likely to be familiar with the music of Son of Dave (aka Ben Darvill) even if you don’t know it because American TV has been using his music for a while now on shows like Breaking Bad, Preacher and others. He has been on Later with Jools Holland, and it’s pretty much a case of once seen – never forgotten. He’s a Canadian who spent the last twenty or so years in the UK, though he has recently returned to Canada because, as he puts it, “…any old hipster can move to Bristol!”. With this latest album, he has also returned to the authentic sound that earned him his reputation.
It comes as a real surprise to find an artist that combines the old and the new in such an innovative way. He uses his voice, beatboxing skills, percussion and looping/ effects technology to create a sound that riffs on authentic delta blues while still sounding current and relevant. Leaving aside the jaw-dropping rhythm tracks that underpin his songs, it’s the harmonica and the voice that push buttons for me. There are similarities to John Lee Hooker in the semi-spoken delivery of some songs, and I can hear a little of Ben Harper in there sometimes. He is extraordinary; listen to the ‘Someday Soon’, it’s hard to believe it’s just voice, harmonica and a conga drum.
You may find it just as surprising to hear what sounds like a full band on ‘I’m Going Monkey for your Love’ though it’s one man. This is one of the best songs for motorway driving that I’ve heard in years, but watch your foot on that accelerator pedal! Listening to this, I found myself calling to mind the voice of the late and much-missed Alex Harvey, and I don’t pay a compliment like that lightly. Lyrically these songs are strong and don’t fall into the trap of using all the old blues clichés too much. ‘F That Daily Mail’ is a protest song that uses a judiciously placed harmonica fill to really gets its message across without using the profanity that the title might suggest. Similarly, ‘Knock Off’, with a heavily effect-laden voice and incredibly tight production, has a rap-style delivery that leaves you in no doubt that he has an opinion. There are some really nice piano touches in this, too, and a lovely little tom-tom or conga riff that reminds me of Sandy Nelson’s ‘Let There Be Drums’ from 1961. This guy takes his influences where he can get ‘em. There’s more of that piano in the slow, gospel-tinged ‘Remaining Days’ that shows he can do slow and soulful, too. If you subscribe to the theory that ‘…the blues ain’t nothin’ but a good man feelin’ bad’, then this will be right up your street.
I’m rather old-fashioned that my car still has a CD player. I have to say that ‘Call Me King’ has taken up residence and doesn’t look like being evicted any time soon. None of these songs run over three minutes, and they are none the worse for that. It won’t surprise me at all if some of these songs end up reinforcing Son of Dave’s reputation as a go-to source of TV atmosphere. I fully expect this collection to pick up plenty of radio and podcast plays along with millions of streams, and it should feature heavily in the ‘Best Blues Album of 2022’ lists when that time of year rolls around. If you like your blues loud, raw and energetic, you will love this.
Pre-Order Call Me King via Bandcamp: https://sonofdave.bandcamp.com/album/call-me-king