Time for another rummage through the Vinyl Vault here at Bluesbunny Towers. But where to start looking? Perhaps midway through it. Midway? No, Medway. Something from that lost corner of musical primitivism in Britain would do the job. A recent album from Ludella Black (ex Del-Monas and Thee Headcoatees) magically sprung out from the rack. Hence "From This Witness Stand" found itself being placed respectfully on the turntable.
Taking the aesthetics first, the back sleeve design is a delight for those of us who are sad vinyl collectors. Not only is the graphic design delightfully dated in a sixties' EMI house style but there are even faked grubby marks like you would get on well used original Garrod & Lofthouse laminated sleeves from that period. Hell, this album even declares itself as being in glorious mono.
The sound quality is no great shakes sounding distinctly low budget throughout. That was probably an artistic decision and nothing that cannot be addressed by turning the volume up. Miss Black turns out to be something of a chanteuse switching the emotions on and off at will. Sometimes she is so cool she could be Dusty ("Take A Heart") and sometimes she piles on the passion (the edgy, political "My Johnny Raw") and sometimes she goes old style punk ("Loony") but she always sounds at ease with what she is doing. The songs are mostly by Micky Hampshire (of the Masonics who provide a chunk of the musical support as well) and neatly fit her style for style is what she has, without a doubt.
When you listen to this album, you get reminded that Britain is full of eccentrics and a lot of them seem to end up making music. Even better, they keep making music. In these days of Saturday night stardom, I find that comforting.