[rating=8.00]
Phil Cook delivers the kind of informal gospel-flavored album you could easily associate with a southern church or simply a bunch of friends singing on a back porch. The informality proves engaging for Phil Cook’s People Are My Drug, a work that taps into Cook’s affection for NOLA rhythms and his drawing together many voices.
About the moving opening track, “Steampowered Blues,” Cook comments, “I’ve long been drawn to the swing and swagger of New Orleans’ step rhythms. The left-right bass lines get my feet stepping, whereas the drums channel by hip movements and weightless carefree melodies often coax my arms from my side to the sky. Lyrically, it’s playful in a way I can get behind. Tamisha Waden and Chastity Brown’s vocal expressions are stunning. The payoff when Mountain Man enter at the end of the double-time chant makes me cheer every time. Within my mortal body and experience, this music is my church.’’
The communal spirit of the album is apparent in the sound before you learn that his brother Brad Cook is the producer. Cook dubbed his band the Guitarheels, comprised of drummer JT Bates, bassist Michael Libramento, and pianist James Wallace. Cook sings and plays guitars and banjo. Guests contribute to select tracks. The array of female voices often sounds like a choir with several tracks featuring as many as four or five of them. Besides Waden and Brown, Amelia Meath, Molly Sable, and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig add backgrounds. Cook wrote or co-wrote four the ten, collaborating with Meath (Sylvan Esso) on “Miles Away.” Of the other six, he notably covers Randy Newman’s “He Gives Us All His Love” and Allen Toussaint’s “Life,” using Richmond’s NO BS! Brass Band to give it the proper NOLA treatment.
The album was recorded in Cook’s home state of Wisconsin and recently adopted home state of North Carolina in a mere ten days. It’s delivered honestly, emotionally, and above all spiritually, tracing to Cook’s work with Mavis Staples and as Musical Director for The Blind Boys of Alabama.
If Cook is a new name for you, note that he previously authored the widely acclaimed solo album, Southland Mission. His first solo effort, Hungry Mother Blues, was a low-key solo instrumental album based on Cook’s love for music of the Delta, Appalachia, and Bayou. Additionally, Cook has his hands in several projects, including the psych-folk band Megafaun, and as a recording and touring member of Hiss Golden Messenger. Besides Staples and the BBA, he has collaborated with Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls.
It’s easy to see why Cook is looked to as both a leader and collaborator. He’s got natural soul.
