Clocking in at a tidy 5 tracks totalling around 20 minutes, the new EP from original song writer Joe Rhinewine is a short, sharp and well judged introduction to perhaps one of the most unusual artists you’re likely to hear this year. With a healthy respect for the skill and musicianship that goes into old school funk and blues, Rhinewine has embraced the style for his ‘Songs from NowHere’ EP, but adapted it to make it his own.
The blues foundations of the record, which are played with real dexterity by Rhinewine himself, take something of a backseat to his unique lyrical writing style and delivery. As a practicing Buddhist, it won’t surprise you to learn that some of his songs take on a real depth of meaning and feeling, while others border on the banal. Take for example the track above – delivering sly humour while not being about anything in particular. This blend of the blues, the deep and the shallow make for a very compelling collection, well worth seeking out on Amazon if you’re in the mood for something different.
