MR SPIDER - Wishing Well EP
With newly arrived vocalist Michele Mclaren on board, the band of John on lead guitar, Ross on bass and Paul on drums elected to produce a three track demo EP featuring their version of three classic seventies rock tracks, and, from the middle of 2005, comes this CD. It opens with a version of Free's "Wishing Well" and right from the start, the strength of the band becomes obvious as the opening guitar riff is positively dirty sounding in the hands of guitarist John, while the rhythm section keep it solid and direct. Then, when Michele comes in on vocals, it's a revelation as her sultry but strong voice begins the song then soars to a mid-register anthemic quality with a hint of tense passion in there, all of which gives the song a wholly fresh outlook and, no matter how many times you've heard this in the past, this is one fresh and alive rendition. A mid-song guitar solo just flies and when Michele comes back, the song lifts off like never before. In the hands of Free it was a classic - here, it's a positive anthem.
From there it's into the Robert Johnson-penned "Crossroads" that became a staple diet of Cream's repertoire, and here the band launch into it with another dirty, powerful opening guitar riff and lead with the bass thundering down below as the drums drive it forward. In contrast to what you might expect, Michele takes the song on at a slightly higher key than before - still veering into sultry qualities at points along the way - but largely giving the song a new makeover that, once more, makes it leap out at you, no matter how familiar you are with previous versions. Another searing guitar solo and Michele's impassioned but restrained lead vocal, makes this surging slice of blues-rock sound so hot and strong, so solid and consistent, so darned NATURAL, you almost forget that there's been any other version before it.
They finish with a version of Thin Lizzy's "Don't Believe A Word". taken at a faster pace than the original, and here you get the feel that Michele should have maybe done it slower and sultrier to befit the original, but, that aside, it's a quite rousing version thanks in part to John's electrifying lead guitar work and Ross's undulating up-front bass work, while Michele sounds positively "polite" despite a strong lead vocal, but it was the early days and, if you've read my reviews of them live since then or seen the band, you'll know just how powerful a singer she's becoming in this band. As a first step, it's largely superb, and conveys all the promise of what's come since, as well a being two stunning cover versions in a world of the things.
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