Carl Reuter – What you hear is what you get…
The one man band has come a long way since a gentleman busker by the name of Don Partridge had a UK hit with a catchy, folksy song called Rosie back in the seventies. Carl Reuter doesn’t carry a foot-operated big bass drum on his back, clap a pair of cymbals under his armpit or play the kazoo on a neck brace reminiscent of a mediaeval instrument of torture . What he does is play a variety of guitars and blues harps linked to just enough electronic wizardry to widen his sound and give it a classic, vibrant, acoustic blues-rock quartet feel.
Listen to samples of the tracks…
Sample King of the One Man Blues
Sample Low Down
Sample Walkin’ Tall
Reuter takes the one-man band tradition from its street entertainer origins towards a full-out, big stage, dance oriented musical genre. It’s a crisp, live sound – hot drums, driving acoustic bass, funky open-tuned guitar techniques and a wailing Chicago-style harp alternating with his unique, warm, rock n’ roll voice.
Some more samples of the tracks…
Sample Good Woman Blues 2
Sample Badwater Rising
Sample Reunion
Missing from these studio sessions is of course the usual clapping and whooping of the crowd, the thud of dancing feet and the yells for more. He could easily have dubbed in a raucous audience but I applaud him for choosing not to. Catch a live show and you’ll hear foot-stomping a-plenty, but this is different – it’s more about the songs and less about the showbuzz.
And a few more…
Sample No More
Sample Drifting in the Darkness
Sample Bottle-a-Rum
Sample Chocolate Blues
This album showcases an hour of Carl Reuter originals. Some tracks are rooted in the classic blues tradition, some are sizzling rockhoppers, some even verge on bluesy cabaret, but all tracks have powerful, fluent lyrics. Take a minute to read the lyrics and you’ll see what I mean. The guy has something to say.
and…
Sample Two Wheels on the Road
Sample Mean St Blues
Sample Road Well Travelled
Sample Big Ol’ Bluesman
Carl Reuter. Band in a man. Surprisingly solo, excitingly original and refreshingly real. OK, I’m a believer. He IS the undisputed King of the One Man Blues.
—- Peter “Sax” Saxon
