The Blue and Gold – Honey in the Rock (2022)
The Blue and Gold are celebrating the artistry and legacy of pioneering female blues musicians with ‘Honey in the Rock’, their reinterpretation of Blind Mamie Forehand’s gospel blues masterpiece. Not only is the single a celebration of the artists who have come before, but it is also the first off the duo’s upcoming self-titled debut album. Throughout the new album, they pay homage to the influence of black female artists on country and blues traditions, while bringing a touch of modernity to their sound.
Juno nominated and WCMY Blues Artist of the Year, Ndidi O and folk-roots guitarist Trish Klein join forces for this musical collaboration. Through this single, they bring the best elements of their individual sounds and merge them with the traditions they pay tribute to. With this single, they are breathing new life into the classic 1927 single releases by Forehand.
‘Honey in the Rock’ opens with some deep blues feelings through the opening line. The twang of the instrumentation is a classic roots blues sound that makes you want to nod your head to the rhythm. The deep drum that slaps under the guitar line adds to the traditional blues feeling of the track. As the melody consists of only the drum and the bluesy guitar line, the vocals shine brighter. While it is a relatively stripped back melody, there is a lot of emotion and power resting in each note. You can feel the traditions that have been woven into blues over time shining through, but there is this little touch of modernity that makes the track a pleasure to listen to.
While Klein’s melodic run takes you into the past with the bluesy traditions, Ndidi O’s vocals slide through the soundscape like honey. There is a sweetness to her performance that brings a new life to the vintage flow of her delivery. Her performance captures some of the essence of Forehand’s original performance. She brings a wonderful thread of something that is purely her to the sound. There is a richness and depth to her performance that enhances the gospel edge of the lyrics. This reinterpretation of the single encapsulates everything that made the original a pleasure to listen to while bringing a slick and smooth modern production. The power of her vocals also adds a little something to the single.
The Blue and Gold breathe new life into the gospel blues traditions of ‘Honey in the Rock’, while paying tribute to the traditions in its foundation. While the lyrics and melody have been kept mostly unchanged, there is a flair of modernity to the production. Klein and Ndidi O’s performances are slick as they capture the traditions of blues and sprinkle in something purely them.
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