ANA POPOVIC "UNCONDITIONAL" Source: RockTimes.de Date: 09/2011 Writer: Jurgen Hauss

Ana Popovic "Unconditional"

Sex sells! Begin with the keyword 'need' a review of this disc, given the provocative cover easily. Was it not too long ago, an unknown beauty, dressed in nothing but a guitar on the cover of the CD Raised On Rock from the Blindside Blues Band graced gives us here the protagonist is highly self one only by her guitar partially obscured view of her bare body.

And it must Ana Popovic did not fall to such a charlatan means to arouse interest for their latest release. Your name alone should be enough to win the supporters of the cultivated Blues Rock for the disc. However, I ran the CD, of course, immediately apparent, as I trust my record store, Mr. Music in Bonn, adorned with a huge family of the shelf wall saw (especially the relevant shippers on the Internet to publish - as before - only for 19 August 2011 announce, and even on Anas homepage is called a later date), so I of course immediately access.

The cover is adorned with a booklet, which unfolded a collage uniform around the graphics and all lyrics containing protagonist. At first reading it is immediately obvious that Ana over the previous album Blind For Love has replaced her entire band. Thus missing (to me), especially the charismatic bassist Ronald Jonker , who is currently playing live is always a great interaction with Ana Popovic has delivered. Present case it appears only as a co-arranger on "Reset Rewind". Therefore the key man is Jon Cleary again with this, the Ana already on Still Making History has accompanied. Now I Lay but finally the booklet aside to dedicate myself entirely to the music.

Let's go for as much Anas concerts with the quieter track "Fearless" on the acoustic (metal?)-guitar, anyway, as preferred by her geslidet. Faster it goes after the change to the electrical and the blues harp by Jason Ricchi also gives the song a rawer sound. First time here and the wah wah pedal is impressive to use.

The title song of the CD "Unconditional" on the other hand one can again refer to as a ballad. The backbone is a clearly perceptible gentle piano accompaniment and percussion sounds - almost bar music. But the guitar solo has returned to direction-bar blues. Classical 'organ sound pigs' heads "Reset Rewind" and imprinted in the period following the sound. The song reminds initially strongly to "The Weight" by Smith on the soundtrack to "Easy Rider".

Tip scan on the CD for me is clearly the purely instrumental "Slide Show", the Ana Popovic with Sonny Landreth subtracting composed together with the same track. Partially in parallel, sometimes individually like to play both the tones only by our ears - great! Ana thanked in the credits at their 'Slide-idol since childhood, " for which "" voodoo guitar , so that is stylistically all described!

With "Business As Usual" takes Ana back out the pace. The song seems to be divided in two: After half of the season is the text printed entirely sung, and a howling guitar solo takes over the more telling, so that you can make your own thoughts to the topic title. . But towards the end of the vocal part is simply repeated and brings the piece to end

funky tones characterize "Your Love Is not Real"; sounds one of Ana already knows from her previous albums, but she returns later than the solos repeatedly returned to the blues.

With "Work Song" is the second part of the CD ushered in the Ana exclusively relies on foreign compositions (only in "Summer Rain" after all, she has a composer worked yet). The Nat 'Cannonball' Adderley classics are missing here, however, the typical wind;. but is again the 'pig organ' in addition to the solo guitar is the defining instrument of

"Summer Rain" could not be more topical given the current weather situation, but so sweet ' ', as Ana sings it, I can not find him at the moment, given the prevailing incessant rain. Therefore, it splashes the song quite nice. And then again "Voodoo" on the so-called "Woman." The topic is Ana by the strong use of the wah wah pedal just musically. And a certain magic that emanates from the protagonist is not simply explained away.
The title "One Room Country Shack" stabs me in the eye immediately, but I have a great version of this song by Blood, Sweat & Tears in my inventory. This song? Similarities are hardly perceptible, but is the B, S & T -interpretation in particular by strong wind deployment (and the distinctive voice of David Clayton-Thomas ) dominated. The text is only phased in unison. And finally, with Mercy Walton here or John Lee Hooker called there, different composers. Ana leans with its interpretation in any case very similar to the on Mercy Walton -based version of Buddy Guy at (of course with gender text adjustments) and brings the song to be very quiet Therefore ballad - goosebumps!

The year will end Ana with "Soulful Dress", also a very old bit of blues (including 1984 by Marcia Ball sang). Ana Popovic interprets this wind-shaded track with powerful, just 'bluesy' voice, alternating with transparent solo guitar because teeters one inevitably. Just a pity that the song fades out very early and relatively 'hard', space for more would be given the total playing time of the CD was just over fifty minutes is sufficient available.
It may also occasionally writer on rock times give the appearance of one Ana Popovic disenchanted with the idea - I clearly do not belong! And the present appearance is a 'round thing'. I would therefore resolve my review with a sentence that 'Joe' Brookes was chosen as the opening sentence of his review of "Blind For Love": "An Ana Popovic could always sing about their feelings and to play according to the Blues" . Nothing to add!