ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: Blues In Britain Magazine Date: 08/2009 Writer: Mick Rainsford

When reviewing Ana Popovic’s DVD “Ana!” I wrote “She is "her own woman" - and one sassy lady at that.  And - it is that combination of a natural overt sexuality allied to grittily soulful vocals and an undoubted guitar virtuosity that makes her so successful and potentially a "crossover" artist capable of raising the profile of the blues”.  Well – with the release of “Blind For Love” she has raised the bar again on a set that showcases one of the most talented young artists on the blues/soul/rock scene today.

I commented on Popovic’s overt sexuality, and on this set she flaunts it with unrestrained abandonment.  The opening track, “Nothing Personal”, finds her “strutting her stuff” like a modern, seriously funky Etta James – delivering blues rock perfection with snakey guitar, percolating organ and hard riffing horns.  At this stage I have to mention the band as Popovic is accompanied by the nucleus of the Phantom Blues Band with Mike Finnigan, Tony Braunagel, Darrell Leonard and Joe Sublett plus Ronald Jonker, Andrew Thomas and Lenny Castro – so, as you would imagine, this band cooks.

“Wrong Woman” is a warning to her man that shouldn’t be ignored – it’s intensity heightened by the gospel inflected backing vocals.  Although in truth – the man who times her would be a complete fool as this is one lady who is all WOMAN!

“More Real” has a slinky Eartha Kitt feel – temptress, seductress – with hauntingly erotic vocals and slide underpinned by deeply soulful harmony backing.  “Blues For M” finds Popovic sounding like a bluesy amalgam of Eartha Kitt and Cleo Laine – “Get Back Home To You” conjures up a vision of a female Jimi Hendrix (Jemima Hendrix?) – Etta James meets Cream on “Need Your Love” – whilst the North Mississippi Hill Country slide and intense gospel harmonies that pervade “Steal Me Away” bring to mind a young “She-Wolf” (Jessie Mae Hemphill).

I was tempted to write the clichéd “all killer no filler” but will go instead for “all sex no hex”.

Rating 10
Mick Rainsford