Grant Haua – Awa Blues (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Here we are in the deepest south. Not in the USA, but much further down. In New Zealand namely, these two islands near Australia,and in the Antarctic it is then also not far. This is so far from everything that the people there are probably a little freer than elsewhere and simply do not perceive certain customs of the rest of the world. Take Grant Haua, for example. He plays guitar, but unlike what you usually hear. He plays like a disgruntled percussionist who clambers around frantically on the strings. Or like the banjo player of a Bluegrass group. He is a virtuoso, a quite extraordinary one at that. This at the same time crackling and fast guitar playing can be heard first in Awa Blues, his album released by the French label Dixiefrog. Then comes his voice. This voice of a man who has probably sung very often at night in bars, when he was already a bit intoxicated after several drinks donated. It is a loud, seemingly robust voice, but behind which soul and feeling hide. Grant Haua rarely plays a blues in the truest sense of the word, as it is in the album title. Depending on his current mood, he prefers to serve it as a mixture of rock, folk and pop, which he always spices up with sounds from the southern countries. With acoustic guitars, organ and a bit of harmonica these songs will be the familiar companions in the summer morning breeze and connoisseurs will think of the Americans Greg Brown or Tony Joe White.

This is the deep south. Not that of the United States, but even further south. New Zealand, that double confetti of islands close to Australia and not so far from Antarctica. So far away from everything that people there are probably a little freer than elsewhere, unaware of certain conventions in force in the rest of the world. Take Grant Haua, for example. He plays the guitar, but not like everyone else. He plays like a frustrated percussionist, tapping the strings at full speed. Or like a banjo player in a bluegrass band. He’s a virtuoso, but out of the ordinary. It’s this sizzling, fluid guitar playing that you hear in Awa Blues, his first record for the French label Dixiefrog… Then comes the voice. The voice of a man who must have sung extensively in bars when the evening was well underway and who himself had to pay for a few drinks. A strong voice, seemingly rustic, but beneath which hides soul and emotion. This blues, the one mentioned in the title of the album, Grant Haua rarely plays it in the strict sense. He prefers to wrap it in rock, folk or pop depending on the mood of the moment but always flavouring it with southern influences. Acoustic guitars, an organ and a little harmonica make these songs a pleasurable listening experience for Sunday mornings in summer. They will remind you of those from the American Greg Brown, or Tony Joe White. A warm, inviting record! – Stéphane Deschamps

Tracklist:
01. Grant Haua – Got Something (02:56)
02. Grant Haua – This Is The Place (04:03)
03. Grant Haua – Be Yourself (03:38)
04. Grant Haua – Tough Love Mumma (03:06)
05. Grant Haua – Addiction (04:25)
06. Grant Haua – Devil Is A Woman (03:00)
07. Grant Haua – My Baby (03:26)
08. Grant Haua – Mumma’s Boy (03:07)
09. Grant Haua – Can’t Let It Go (02:49)
10. Grant Haua – Better Day (03:41)
11. Grant Haua – Keep On Smiling (02:27)
12. Grant Haua – Might Have Been (03:38)

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