The Mercy Brothers STRANGE ADVENTUR (GIBRALTAR)

This is the sound of esteemed R&B howler Barrence Whitfield, of Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, and blues guitarist/songwriter Michael Dinallo, formerly of the Radio Kings, catching their breath. Both still breathe fire: Whitfield in the epic leaps and graceful contours of his rich voice, Dinallo flying over the fingerboard of his acoustic guitar on "Misery Train." But the largely acoustic Mercy Brothers give both a chance to relax and explore the deeper, more soulful side of the blues and country music they love, whether in classic tunes like "Another Man Done Gone" and Blind Willie McTell’s "Broke Down Engine" or original gems like Dinallo’s blue-collar story "Working on the Line" and "Mr. Johnson," an old-fashioned tale of romance and murder that will resonate with fans of dire Appalachian balladists like Dock Boggs even as it features Dinallo’s electric guitar in full wail. The duo are abetted by Tim Taylor’s harmonica, Paul Kochanski’s acoustic bass, guest Vidar Busk’s six-string, the sharp slide playing of Tim Kelly, and Andy Plaisted’s drums, but the best moments put Dinallo and Whitfield side by side, locked in a dialogue of guitar and voice that gets at the warm heart of these songs.