CD reviews : Medicine Head, Canned Heat, Eric Bibb
Medicine Head,”Heartwork” (Talking Elephant)- John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans enjoyed a brief flirtation with chart success when their single “(And The) Pictures in the Sky” soared into the lower reaches of the U.K. singles charts in 1971 and more hits followed in subsequent years in the shape of “One & One Is One,” “Rising Sun” and “Slip and Slide.” The mass audience for Medicine Head’s delightfully organic brand of blues rock gradually drifted away however, and Hope-Evans departure in 1977 has left Fiddler ploughing a lone furrow as he’s striven to keep the band’s name alive for the last forty odd years alongside assorted like minded musical cohorts. “Heartwork” is the latest addition to John’s illustrious back catalogue, a deliciously understated affair recorded in close collaboration with multi instrumentalist Dzal Martin, whose eloquent guitar work underpins fine tracks such as “Love Is Not A Dream,” “Alibi” and “Blue Eyes.”