Struttin` & Strollin`
BLUEPRINT MAGAZINE SUMMER 2000
This is the third CD from this English, Brittany based acoustic duo and it is every bit as good as their previous offerings. It is very much in a similar vein to the first two, but it differs in the fact that 11 of the 16 tracks were written by singer/guitarist Ashley Dow. He has come up with a fine selection of songs that have their roots so firmly established in the pre-war traditions of blues and old timey that you could be forgiven for thinking they were written during that era. A good example is The Immigrants Song which sounds as if it was around during the dustbowl period or came from the pen of Woody Guthrie.
Instrumentally, they improve all the time and special mention must be made of Debbie Dows sensitive harmonica playing, which should never be underestimated. Ashley goes from strength to strength, especially his lap-slide work on a Weissenborn-type instrument and his ukulele playing., for instance on the instrumental piece, Applejack Rag .
Although well known in their adopted home of France and other European countries, Rag Mama Rag are only just starting to build up a reputation in the UK. They have now toured in the south-east a few times and I suspect they will gradually push into new territories. This release will certainly help enhance their already good reputation and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Try and catch them live when they come back in September and in the meantime buy this CD.
Rating 10
Michael Prince.
FOLK ROOTS MAGAZINE No. 209 November 2000
Moving from the Yanks to the Brits, good too that theres newer blood struttin and strollin their stuff. Rag Mama Rag are Ashley & Deborah Dow a British duo living in Brittany , France. Struttin & Strollin, their third CD, is chock full of good blues, hokum and vaudeville. Just to listen youd think that all the music originated in the `20s and `30s but the credits reveal that Ashley composed eleven of the sixteen items. Ashley Dow is an accomplished instrumentalist playing acoustic, Dobro, National, Lap Steel, and Weissenborn guitars plus banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and acoustic bass guitar. Deborah keeps the rhythm going on washboard, spoons and percussion and she also blows some pretty good harmonica. They cross the channel quite frequently so check out the duo and their entertaining CD when they appear next at a Music Hall near you.
Dave Peabody
