No Other Love＜Red Splatter Vinyl＞

Prophet's follow-up to The Hurting Business finds him in excellent form, still making American roots music but casting his net a little wider to bring in a few more influences. For example, "Elouise" kicks off with a rhythm straight out of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" before evolving into something looser and less threatening, and "Summertime Thing" has the laid-back vibe of the Young Rascals' "Groovin'" welded to some funky wah-wah guitar influenced by the Isley Brothers. With a voice suggesting that he's training to be Tom Waits when he grows older and occasional lyrics (as in "Run Primo Run") inspired by the vintage Dylan songbook (the Farfisa organ that recurs in the album only furthers the connection), there's a strong romantic streak running through his work, most evident in "No Other Love" and even the growing-older wisdom of "Old Friends." His songwriting continues to grow and his guitar skills (which he tends to hide under a bushel a little), never flashy or grabbing the spotlight, have become mature and sophisticated, a long way from his days in Green on Red. One of America's great underground artists, Prophet's slowly blooming into a major figure. ~ Chris Nickson

マーク・アイツェルやヴィク・チェスナットらと次々契約を結び注目を集めるレーベル、ニュー・ウェストからリリースされた6作目。マッスル・ショールズのサウンドをこよなく愛する彼らしい渋味と色気を湛えたルーツ・ミュージックが満喫できる。表題曲をはじめ、バラード系もまた素晴らしい出来だ。奥方ステファニー・フィンチとのゴー・ゴー・マーケット（ブリル・ビルディングなパーティー・バンド!）の新作もぜひ。
bounce (C)荒田光一