To start off with the obvious: no one plays guitar like Robin Trower, and that soulful, mellifluous sound colours everything he does on “Come And Find Me.”
It’s there on “A Little Bit Of Freedom” and the more Hendrix-sounding fuzz of “One Go Round,” with its funky bassline.
He reckons that the lyrics have got darker over the years—and they might have—but there’s always a note of hope in what he does. “I Would Lose My Mind” offers exactly that, along with a solo of immense skill.
The title track offers a hand to those who need it, and there’s such a warm, welcoming feel to this. Where some blues concentrates on the primal, this has a gentle, contented air.
Indeed, while Trower rightly deserves plaudits for what he does, so too does the wonderful Richard Watts for the way he complements and interprets the words.
The long-standing nature of the conspirators here gives this an almost band-like feel, and there’s a real camaraderie.
For a man in his eighth decade, Trower always seems to be looking forward, and “The Future Starts Right Here” exemplifies this, while also underlining his gift for always finding the good in people.
Guest vocalist Jess Hayes steals the show on “Tangled Love”—a real mic drop moment if ever there was.
There’s a simply gorgeous air to “Capture The Life Begun.” A summer breeze wafts through, and given that this was recorded over a 12-month period, it’s tempting to think of this as June’s offering.
2025 is looked at in “Without A Trace,” and it’s not impressed.
Trower’s songs are also notable for their lack of excess fat—nothing outstays its welcome—and Trower (who also plays bass on nearly all of these) is outstanding on “I Fly Straight To You.”
It might end with the reflective “Time Stood Still,” but we all know it doesn’t—not least the man himself: “It’s kind of scary,” he said. “You know that you’re way down the road, and you could hit a brick wall at any time. But I still love doing this. For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than working on a new song…”
It shows, because this period of his career is amongst his most productive—and up there with his best.
RATING: 8.5/10
