Seven

French blues guitarist and singer Tia Gouttebel teams with Gilles Chabenat (vielle à roue, aka hurdy-gurdy) and Fabrice Bony (percussion) to make up Muddy Gurdy, based in what they call the ‘Appalachians of central France’ in Auvergne. Previously, they’ve blended rural French music, including bourrée dancers, a harp player, a bagpipe player, and ancient work songs, with various hues of the blues, working with the likes of JB Lenoir, or field-recording with the next generation of hill country blues, including Cedric Burnside and Pat Thomas, to vigorous, often startling effect. Here, they’ve journeyed through Southern Louisiana, recording with local Cajun and zydeco performers or family bands in front rooms, juke joints, and even on a small boat out on a lake. Interspersed with snatches of chatter, its effortless intimacy, warmth and enthusiasm manages to breathe glorious new life and dynamism into even the most over-familiar tune.