CD Reviews

"Unconditional"

Ana Popovic

Eclecto Groove

Six albums into her career, Ana Popovic has released her finest release to date. Continuing to demonstrate relentless and breathless guitar performances that are over the top and often sit on the fence between rock and blues, not that the fence has ever been too high to cross over before. Unconditional is fun, exciting and full of heart. Ana lays it all down with personality stating this is who I am, no apologies given or expected.

Recorded in New Orleans and co-produced by John Porter, Ana brings some heavy-weight friends to help out, including pianist Jon Cleary appearing on all but two tracks. Throw in others like David Torkanowski, Jason Ricci and Sonny Landreth and how can you possibly go wrong? It doesn’t. The blend is full of soulful vocals, blazing guitar and rockin’ blues at its best.

Highlights have to include “Count Me In” where Ana is tearing into her strings while guest Jason Ricci rips the tune with blistering harmonica action that defies what people have come to know from the instrument before. Nat Adderley’s signature piece “Work Song” has a new life sounding quite fresh that may be unrecognizable from versions you’ve heard before; it jumps with Jon Cleary and Ana trading riffs between piano and guitar. Then there is “Slideshow,” a tour de force, finding Ana and Sonny Landreth in a slide guitar fusion that seems to have no end, yet keeps throwing out sensational licks between the two. Ana’s guitar work, especially her slide, and her talent as a songwriter, continue to grow at exceptional pace. She has found the niche that works and it’s a welcome knock-out delivery that makes Unconditional a superb album and should seal her future within blues fans hearts.

Total Time: 50:59

Fearless Blues / Count Me In / Unconditional / Reset Rewind / Slideshow / Business As Usual / Your Love Ain’t Real / Work Song / Summer Rain / Voodoo Woman / One Room Country Shack / Soulful Dress