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Leo Kottke - Mudlark Audio CD

A fair review of the Leo Kottke "Mudlark" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Leo Kottke reviews here, or go back to the Leo Kottke tabs.

Leo Kottke Band: Leo Kottke
Title: Mudlark
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-02-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Cripple Creek 2: Eight Miles High 3: June Bug 4: The Ice Miner 5: Bumblebee 6: Stealing 7: Monkey Lust 8: Poor Boy 9: Lullaby 10: Machine No.2 11: Hear The Wind Howl 12: Bourree 13: Room 8 14: Standing In My Shoes

Perhaps his best overall performance--with a blink or two
Melodically, with "Stealing," this may be his best: one of the most gorgeous songs ever tried throughout Kottke's career; (although truly taken from several sources) it keeps blooming each time it's played. Leo really outdoes his virtuosity here, and there's even room to smile at the few songs with vocals (exceptions allowed for taste with the guest appearance on "Monkey Lust"). (Hint: on hard-to-find shows from the 70s via collectors, he burned through that on a sizzling 12-string medley that starts with "Last Steam Engine Train. ")

Instrumentally, Kottke and mates (among others, a nifty job by either Paul Lagos or Kenny Buttrey on drums) have left as testimony 14 nifty tracks with variety: quick-step dancing jollity and old-fashioned appeal ("Cripple Creek"), humorous bursts of male hormonal desire ("Bumblebee" and "Standing in My Shoes"), and even some J. S. Bach ("Bouree"). Kottke's urge for the bizarre-yet-appealing gets two fine slide features with "June Bug" and even better, a retooled "Machine #2," which shows how much more a song can do with the right percussion backing.

Bukka White (and John Fahey) have their roots (and fingers) in the design of "Poor Boy," but Leo's vocals and lyrics undo whatever magic "Lullaby" is supposed to make. Leave some space for "Room 8" to justify Kottke's serious treatment, because he's back again to sing "hear the Wind Howl," which may be more appropriately called "Hear {Leo} howl. " .


Wonderful !
I play guitar as a hobby, and have spent time in the studio, which can be difficult. I also had this album in high school on vinyl, and saw Leo at IL State live soon after, and have collected his stuff over the years. Let me say this, if LK had never recorded another note after ' The Ice Miner ' , it would have been enough for me, quite possiblly one of the most haunting, exquisite guitar instrumentals ever. It still raises the hair on my arms, and if you don't get goosebumps, you're not breathing !.


Mudlark
Mudlark shows a lot of influences from early american "Cripple Creek", rambling gritty folk of "Monkey Lust" to the Bach classic "Bourree". Another great album by Leo Kottke. The starting track is Cripple Creek sounds nothing like the old traditional song but the slide guitar is superb. Eight Miles High is stripped down jazz version with some nice trills and sound build ups by Kottke. June Bug is a nice instermental with great dorbo playing. The Ice Miner returns back to the old Kottke with just an acostic guitar playing some beatiful lines that warm you up. My favorite Bumblebee is a jaunty one very popish and one that can get stuck in your head. Stealing is another instermental with Kottke dueting with himself very laidback. Monkey Lust is full of music with a guest vocalist singing some wreary words. Poorboy by Bukka White and composed by Fahey has a band backing him again just like in every other song on the album. Lullaby my least favorite on here just sways around not as good as the other material on the album. The chogging Machine #2 a follow up of Vasaline Machine Gun is the same just with the session players backing Kottke but don't avoid it the druming is hypnotizing and the bass gives it more of a marching sound. Hear the Wind Howl is another favorite with Kottke's vocals and guitar soaring in the song very good. Bourree sounds like he playing from a book because he arranged it so good very professional. Room #8 just meanders on doesn't really go anywhere but some parts do grab your attention. The beaty Standing in my Shoes ends the album with a nice folky-pop love song approch offers some blistering slide guitar in it. Mudlark should not by passed by it one of Leo Kottke's finest moments . .


Superb playing
His recently replayed "Phishy" appearance on Mountain Stage was a delight. I agree with the great enthusiasm of the others here on Kottke's wonderful playing. To answer the previous reviewer, though, the "Bourree" punched up by Ian Anderson, et al. is from Bach's Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (5th movement). For another guitar version, see Julian Bream's CD, J. S. Bach on EMI Classics, which also includes the popular Chaconne.


Bouree
Both are still great, contemporary tributes to J. Kottke played this Bach bourree about the same time Ian Anderson gave it a back beat on Jethro Tull's Stand Up. S. Bach. But does anybody know which bourree this is? Bach wrote dozens, if not hundreds (I think a bourree was a kind of dance, like a minuet). The rest of the album is phenomenal, also, even though I still like hearing the hissing and scratching of my old vinyl version, too.


You can see a complete list of all Leo Kottke discography, or go back to the Leo Kottke tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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