Album Review: Gone Away

Gone Away is the debut album of electric blues up and coming Dunedinite, Oscar LaDell.

Despite his twenty one years of age, he’s a second generation bluesman and knows his way around a fretboard or two. In fact, it sounds like he was born with a guitar in his hands.

With a naturally rich deep voice, Oscar sounds very much like a man wise beyond his years. His vocal cadence is hauntingly captivating and remind me a lot of Chicago bluesman, Jake La Botz. Oscar’s sound has a little bit of everything from electric blues, ragtime, country and folk that he executes with a finesses I haven’t heard in a long time.

From opening titular track, Gone Away and its harmonic lead, it’s impossible to not get caught up in the toe tapping riffs. Further along on track three, Stone Man is stunning. It has such a gentle tone, highly emotive. Definitely one of my favourite tracks.

This album is most definitely not background music, it’s music made to be heard and if you’re like me and yet to experience this brilliance live, this is the next best thing. Just close your eyes and let it take you on a journey.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Oscar LaDell, but one thing I do know is, he’ll be going far.