A couple of years ago I reviewed an album by Israeli guitarist Avi Rosenfeld. I commented how amazing it was that, despite nobody I knew having heard of him he was releasing his twenty seventh album.

That was in June 2016. Twenty two months later here he is again, releasing his THIRTY EIGHTH album, and third with German vocalist Marco Buono. And very nice it is too.

Bluesy rock is the order of the day, with Rosenfeld again occasionally tipping his hat to his hero Ritchie Blackmore; Buono is an assured vocalist who adds real class to proceedings with his contributions, the whole being a thoroughly enjoyable trek through the realms of seventies soft and progressive rock.

Opening track Running to the Station is a bit bluesy for my liking, but the semi-title track that follows is a masterful slice of woozy folk rock that really shines out in respect of the playing and singing. This template is covered again on the similarly classy Late Night, which is slightly reminiscent of The Stereophonics in places.

Supernova is rockier and heads back towards the territory Rosenfeld covers in his series of Very Heepy Very Purple albums, if in slightly more restrained mood.

The latin-tinged If You’re Going to Sacramento is nice if you like that kind of thing, but even if you don’t the strength of performance can’t be denied, especially Mark Brown’s superb Hammond playing. Gotta Feel Alright goes back to the bluesy motifs used by the opening track, albeit with a hint of Southern boogie that may well appeal to Sentinel Daily readers. Rosenfeld’s solos on this track are short but very sweet.

My Own Precious Girl wants a slice of the country pie with it’s keening pedal steel guitars but is a bit bland if I’m honest, and following track Sentimental Blues sees the record threatening to spiral out of control into a morass of folky jam band pleasantness. Sooner or Later gets things back on track with some meaty rifferama, vicious soloing and another assured vocal performance from Buono. I’d really like to see the duo pursue this avenue of their songwriting more vigorously on the inevitable future albums they come up with.

Final track Thinking Loud adds a little soupcon of Beatlesness to it but that’s no bad thing occasionally.

Considering Avi Rosenfeld has released thirty eight albums the songwriting here sounds remarkably fresh and, even if the occasional hint of amateurishness still comes through in the editing and some other aspects, the fact that this is available on Bandcamp as a name your price release means that I’m happy to overlook that. This is a lovely album, really well put together and oozing sincerity. Give it a listen. I’m already looking forward to reviewing album number fifty!

Sad Wings is out now.