Ben Harper/Blind Boys Of Alabama: There Will Be A Light

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * *)


Frankly, Ben Harper has never done it for me. I've walked out of two of his shows because he was boring and sanctimonious, and round my way we call him "Taj Marley". That's not meant as a compliment. However this gutsy, soulful and occasionally rockin' outing with longtime friends the Blind Boys is sometimes such a righteous and genuinely uplifting affair that I'm starting to think again about him.

There's plenty of oldtime religion here but also some classic soul (Where Could I Go is worthy of Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye), some organ-driven swamp funk (Church House Steps), a nasty-edged blues (Satisfied Mind which could have come from Dylan's Saved period) and pop balladry for the Lord (the Cooke-Gaye title track). And grab your tambourine for Church on Time.

First Ben Harper I've ever played back-to-back and will do again. Tomorrow probably - that seems the right day.

Label: Virgin