Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa, Black Coffee - album review

On the one hand you've got Beth Hart. Her dangerously acidic vocal style oozes attitude without relying on shouts. It's a wonderful voice, full of so many layers.

She is ably backed up by a blues guitarist who needs little introduction in these parts. Joe Bonamassa is one quarter of Glenn Hughes' rock-tastic supergroup Black Country Communion and has had his fingers in so many musical pies it's pretty impossible not to have heard something by him.

This is their third record together, and by now they are quite happily in the swing of things.

With those gritty vocals, there's no danger here of being met with something that promises much and falls disappointingly shallow.

Listen to Beth growl in opener Give it Everything You Got, ably backed up by a prowling Joe and a punchy brass section.

It's the start of 'part one', if you like. The record is kind of split in half down the middle. The first five tracks carry a distinctly rocky feel, with 'part two' opening itself more to sliding, slinking blues.

Also here is the title track. Once you are over the disappointment of it not being a cover of the excellent All Saints pop hit from 2000 you can relax and begin to enjoy its merits as a stomping classic rock number. Okay, there are some very questionable lyrics as Beth appears to pretend she is a cup of hot liquid, but musically this is great.

It has to be said that the rowdier 'part one' is all-round better. But there is still some fun to be had in 'part two' among the slower moments.

The rowdy, gospel nature of Saved again allows Beth to let rip with those gravelly tones. And she grabs it with both hands. This is one track where she is front and centre and it is all about her. And it works.

But Joe is allowed to have some fun too. And his mesmerising solo in Sitting On Top Of The World is well worth the wait.

Rating: 7/10

Joe Bonamassa brings his latest world tour to Birmingham's Genting Arena on March 16.