Keys and Chords (Belgium)

4.5 of 5 Stars

The release ‘Gone, Long Gone’ is just the first of three new albums that Steve created during the lockdown. The next two will come to light over three month intervals throughout 2022. His subtle vocals in the title track are supported by fine guitar, pedal steel and a virtual string quartet with Ben Plotnick and Kaitlyn Raitz from Nashville. It shows how underrated Dawson as a singer really is. Jeremy Holmes keeps it all together with his bass lines, the drumming is split between Gary Craig and Jay Bellerose. Steve opens with the soul track 'Dimes', to continue his way with 'King Bennie Had His Shit Together', which is colored with upright bass, barrelhouse piano and a lot of bottleneck. With 'Bad Omen' we go to the deep Delta, and the pedal steel inspired 'Kulaniapia Waltz' rightly gives us a lot of goose bumps. Great stuff!