Truth

A renowned electric guitarist (Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Bonnie Rait) with a solo career as prolific as his plucking, Robben Ford releases his 19th (yes, 19th) album. Truth sees the Californian native; born in 1951, celebrate his passion for blues in an upbeat manner, atypical to the melancholy genre.

Don't fret if you're into mournful camaraderie though; many of Ford's songs still cover heart-wrenching, woe-is-me topics, synonymous with the blues. "Lateral Climb" spells out the pitfalls of the rat race, while "Nobody's Fault But Mine" tells of a regretful love split and "You're Gonna Need A Friend" warns of shallow living. Thankfully though, the melodies, riffs and beats collaborate to make the underlying vibe a feel-good one.

Musically, the album is pretty much fault-free and with Ford's credentials you'd expect little less. An accomplished guitarist who taught himself to play aged just 13 and the son of a country and western singer/guitarist, Ford has won Grammies, toured with Beatle George Harrison and won legions of fans in the process. Truth hears his wealth of experience come in to its own, with Ford's flawless guitar playing, emotional song writing and warming vocal all battling for the limelight.

While it's unarguable this offering will ultimately appeal to more mature ears, the topics are as fresh and as current as today's news. Notably, "Peace On My Mind", with its dreamlike tone and mesmerising guitar, hears Robben sing of war and social and environmental issues. Having studied with Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa, it's obvious this musician's consciousness is in touch with today's fast-changing world.