Such is Joe Bonamassa's standing in the rock blues fraternity that this his fifth album may actually be viewed as something of a reprise of earlier triumphs, but it is none the worse for that. Over the last couple of years Joe has built up an eager European audience though a mix of relentless touring and sterling work done by his Dutch Provogue label. Joe's star has been also been on the the rise in the US since his early teens, and 'You and Me ' is a reaffirmation of both Joe's musical qualities and his detailed knowledge of his musical antecedents.

'You & Me' is in many ways a tip of the hat to the British rock blues style that permeated much of the late 60's and early 70's rock scene. Joe indicates as much in his brief liner notes which state, 'we concentrated on heavy music played in a blues style'. 'You & Me' is precisely that, being an amalgam of blues classics and a handful of originals that superbly coaslesce under the rock blues umbrella. But as Joe states the emphasis is on blues throughout but with a heavy emphasis that will please many rock fans.

Given the the above parameters it is perhaps fitting that three quarters of the way through the album the band launches into a stylish reworking of Zeppelin's 'Tea For Two', in which the guitar takes a primary role rather than the voice.

There's also some heavy riffing on the impressive self penned 'Bridge To Better Days' and a consummate slow blues on the beautiful 'Asking Around For You', which in many ways represents a career highlight so far. The band also add some mighty swagger on the cover of Sonny Boy Willamson's harp embellished shuffle 'Your Funeral My Trial' and Joe chips in with two delicious helpings of wah wah inflected solos.

But the album is far from just an aggregation of heavy duty riffs, as the delicate acoustic outings prove. The feverish playing on the self penned instrumental 'Palm Trees Helicopters And Gasoline' is an example of what you can expect at a live show.

And Joe Bonamssa is one of the most exciting live acts on the rock blues scene, and this album gives you eleven reasons as to why that is.

****

Review by Pete Feenstra