Otis Taylor: Clovis People

The Colorado bluesman continues to cut a singular, fertile path. After a foray into acoustic territory on the influential Recapturing the Banjo , he returns to the rugged, electric style known as "trance blues". Taylor's gruff, spare way with songs make perfect sense once you know, for example, that "Think I Won't" is about a "badass mom" confronting a playground drug dealer. His churning grooves, some cast from John Lee Hooker's mould, are given unusual textures by cornet, cello and pedal steel line-ups, plus guitar from guest Gary Moore. Compelling stuff.