Prohibition

Album Review

South Australia's greatest contribution to blues-rock continues his prolific devotion to old-school '70s boogie with Prohibition. A player in the Texas tradition of Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan (who gets a tributary ballad, "Rest in Paradise"), Gwyn Ashton isn't afraid to add a little Jeff Beck (as on the distorted Yardbirds riffing on the cover of Rory Gallagher's "Secret Agent") or even a touch of Hank Marvin (the twangy "Come On/Don't Walk Run!") when necessary, and given the list of instruments in the liner notes, he's a big believer in the concept that different guitars and effects pedals are necessary for different sounds. But by album's end, all of that variety leads the listener to think that Ashton is a very gifted stylist with a good line in mimicry but little in the way of personal expression. Die-hard blues-rock aficionados will likely appreciate Prohibition, but some might find it slightly disappointing.