Robert Randolph

Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Lickety Split (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 50:38 minutes | 615 MB | Genre: Blues
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Dare Records

Robert Randolph, the virtuoso pedal steel guitarist whose distinctive mix of rock, funk and rhythm & blues has built a fervent, international audience releases his highly anticipated new studio album, Lickety Split, on Blue Note Records. His first studio album since 2010 s We Walk This Road, Lickety Split is produced by Randolph and showcases his Family Band, the powerhouse ensemble that has backed him throughout his career. The Family Band is comprised of actual family members Marcus Randolph, Danyel Morgan, Lenesha Randolph together with guitarist Brett Haas. This album features special guest appearances from Trombone Shorty and Carlos Santana and signifies a return to the joyful, high energy music that has become Randolph’s trademark. The album was engineered by the legendary Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin) and mixed by Jim Scott [Tedeschi,Trucks].

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Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Brighter Days (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:35 minutes | 851 MB | Genre: Blues
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Provogue

After emerging from the sacred pedal steel tradition in the African-American Pentecostal church, Robert Randolph has expanded the sonic possibilities of his instrument. Under Randolph’s fingers, the pedal steel roars as the star of his fiery live shows, exploding the common perception that its best use was adding atmosphere behind country music weepers. After eight albums Randolph has settled into a forceful soul-gospel-blues-groove which he continues to enrich and explore with each new record. In this collaboration, recorded by skilled Nashville producer Dave Cobb (who also played guitar and co-wrote five of the album’s tunes), Randolph mixes things up with a cover of the Pops Staples’ “Simple Man,” and on the funky, Meters-like “Second Hand Man.” “Cut Em Loose” is a powerful hard rock number led by the kind of buzzsaw tone that won the jam band audience over to his cause years ago. The musical intensity increases on “Living Off the Love You Give,” with Randolph letting loose on fierce, razor-like lead lines. Brighter Days closes with “Strange Train,” another driving, jumpy, R&B-drenched dance tune where Randolph shows again why he is the pedal steel guitar’s leading virtuoso. – Robert Baird

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