L.R. Phoenix & Mr Mo' Hell (UK / FINLAND)
Wrecked
©L.R. Phoenix 2009
L.R.Phoenix / Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals
Mr.Mo'Hell / Drums
In his late 20's L.R.Phoenix made the move on the back of a Valkyrie to North Karelia in the east of Finland, near the Russian border. Here by the side of a lake he met Mr.Mo'Hell who was bashing a drum made from the skin of a reindeer and the skull of a moose. Asked from whom he learnt the drums, he replied, 'Late one night around the witching hour, I came and sat beside this spot where four great lakes meet. There sitting upon the ground I started to bash my drum with the paws of a fallen wolf. Soon through the mist of the lake came a strange boat carrying a lone figure. As it came closer I saw it was an old man with a beard as long as the world is old. Fright filled me, but I was unable to move. The boat reached the shore with a dull thud upon the bank not two feet from where I was sitted. The man made no sound only reached down and drew the drum from clasping hands. The old man lifted the drum up to his ear and lightly tapped it. Humming to himself, he produced a small bone from the inside of his long gown, and started to tune the drum. After a timeless moment he handed it back to me, and still humming slipped back into the embrace of the misty lake. And ever since then I can play the drums like a motherfucker.'
Influenced by the ghosts of R.L.Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and a host of other Mississippi Hill Country Blues players, or by the funny little yellow mushrooms they had eaten earlier, L.R.Phoenix and Mr.Mo’Hell played until the fish danced upon the cool waters of the lake.
Winter 2007 L.R.Phoenix made the 'Black Cat Bone' ep alone on an old acoustic, as Mr.Mo'Hell was deep in the snow of Lapland, hiding from the reindeer who wanted his skin back.
Mr.Mo'Hell was able to come to an arrangement with the reindeer and returned in time to record the electric 'Hypnotic Songss Of The Forgotten Dead' ep.
The new cd 'Wrecked' was released amongst the pigeons at Viapori Winter Blues, Helsinki 28th February 2009.
L.R.Phoenix is originally from the town of Crawley, which lies badly in West Sussex, south of England. He first started playing guitar after listening to too much early Metallica and wanted to be James Hetfield. After playing for a while in a local heavy metal band, he switched his electric guitar for an acoustic and was often to be found playing the songs of Neil Young in the dark corners of pubs.
Reviews / Quotes
"I really don't know how the musicians in Europe especially those in countries bordering the Sea of Finland, have managed to take the Genre of Blues, which some of us can safely say, has in some cases become a little too complicated, and offer a much leaner, cleaner, and I think more closer ideal of how the Blues was originally meant to be played like. Such is the case when it comes to L.R. Phoenix & Mo'Hell newest album, "Wrecked".
"Wrecked" is simply a brilliant representation of the old Blues, played in a simply manner with just a Guitar, Drums, and the good old Harmonica thrown in for good measure. The beat on this Album is infectious, the music and vocals are crisp and clear. If your head in not bobbing and your feet tapping from the opening track, you are simply not awake yet."
"In the tradition of Bullfrog Brown, another 2 piece group from the same area, whom I have called the “The New Voice and Sound of the Old Blues.”, L.R. Phoenix & Mo'Hell also carry the torch that will continue to light the way for the old blues for a long time to come."
"If you are not familiar with L.R. Phoenix & Mo'Hell, please do yourself a favor and give them a listen."
"I give "Wrecked" a 5 Star Recommendation"
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
"Dirty blues is what I like and L.R. Phoenix delivers it. His songs are raw and passionate, played with a hard to beat attitude and a kind of dark atmosphere attached to them. This is the Mississippi Hill Country blues played right!" Przemek Draheim, Blues.pl Magazine
"R L Burnside's cut down blues grooves reincarnated - and now living in Finland!" Mike Garner, Blues News, New Zealand".
"L.R.Phoenix & MR.Mo'Hell Offer Us The Essence Of The Blues Past, While At The Same Time, Creating The Art Of The Blues Future" - John Vermilyea, Blues Underground Network"
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