Lo-fi dreams by Jeffrey Halford and the Healers get a Hi-Fi-ve

JEFFREY HALFORD AND THE HEALERS LO-FI DREAMS CD REVIEW

CD / Album Title: lo-fi dreams

Artist:  Jeffrey Halford and the Healers

Album Release Date:   May 19, 2017

Label: http://www.floatingrecords.com

Website:  http://jeffreyhalford.com

 

The work of Jeffery Halford has been long known as “from the hip, straight up, no chaser” in a manner of speaking, no nonsense rock and Blues with a down home feel and honest emotion. Both an Innovator and Traditionalist, Halford has, an always be true to the foundation of the art of using his talent and music as a medium of storytelling.

Once again, he has broken the mold of his own creation…

Lo-Fi Dreams brings back the original “grunge” the tube amp mellow tones and hi end rattle and hum that made the music burn white hot and the heart beat fast is the core of this, his eighth CD, Lo-Fi Dreams, is a stripped down journey of tube amplifiers pushing the speakers to obliteration. Good Ol’ country, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, with a touch of dirty blues. Jeffrey wanted to put more focus than usual on the stripped-down grooves and feels of the songs. This sets up the best backdrop for the lyrics and leaves more empty landscape to run around and play in. Using vintage lo-fi amplifiers and guitars like the Sears Silvertone, Danelectro and Harmony brands from the 1950s and ‘60s, this provides a warm and fuzzy sound that reflects some of the best albums ever made. Of course, Jeffrey also uses his signature National Resophonic guitar.

Bird of Youth is a great example of the imagery in Halfords music; I imagine the hot rods of the “Good Ol’ Days” when a man was measured by his wheels, his muscle and the lady at his side. Songs on this fantastic new offer of historic cuts range from soft tempo hits like Sweet Annette, Door #3 and Great Divide to Searing Party Tracks like Elvis Shot The Television,  Looking For A Home, Two Jacksons and more. To describe all the magnificent nuances of this album would steal its thunder, you just have to hear it for yourself, and one could only imagine the energy going through the air in the studio when Jeffrey Halford and the Healers were making solid gold from thin air. This new album, Lo-Fi Dreams is Sweet, simple and all the Halford magic one could want and handle.

Californian Jeffrey Halford, born in Texas, has shared the stage with Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, as well as blues greats Taj Mahal, Etta James, Los Lobos and John Hammond, to name a few. He started playing guitar on the streets of San Francisco and found his calling in songwriting and performing.

Lo-Fi Dreams was recorded in San Francisco; Halford is joined by Adam Rossi, Co-Producer and Bill Macbeath hold down the rhythm section. Guests Jimmy Dewrance plays harmonica on two tracks and Tom Heyman plays steel and guitar on two tracks.

Halford’s stories and character sketches will take you where you have been before and where you will never go. In an Airstream trailer, converted diner, almost Jim Thompson-esque…Or the torn and frayed character in need of repair, finding a connection with the thrift store girl. He will take you inside a Las Vegas hotel room with the King himself, getting ready to shoot the television.

Get Lo-Fi Dreams, pump it up to Hi-Volume, it back, relax and let Jeffrey Halford and the Healers drive you in the big black car to a better place.