Review: Allison August ‘August Moon’

Review: Allison August ‘August Moon’

By Hal Horowitz

“Turn up the radio, as loud as it will go/’Cause music is like medicine to me” sings Allison August on “Dashboard Madonna,” one of the reflective tracks on her new ‘August Moon’ release. The song’s loping, languid, sensual tone is heavily influenced by Little Feat in their “Dixie Chicken” era so it’s little surprise to find that legendary band’s guitarist Paul Barrere aboard as a key contributor. Longtime session ace Mike Finnigan takes Billy Payne’s style to bring extra Feat goodness.

Finnigan passed in 2021 and we lost Barrere in 2019, which shows how long some of these tunes have been gestating, waiting to be exposed on what is only August’s second album in nine years. But, like most timeless music, these dozen tracks, which incorporate funk, jazz, pop and R&B, slathered with a Southern vibe, reflect a naturally organic, enduring approach.

It helps having GRAMMY award winning producer/drummer Tony Braunagel along to guide the final product, especially since the sessions originated from three studios in different years. But despite the music’s variety, the result is a cohesive statement from August who comfortably inhabits each selection blending swagger, assurance and self-reflection.

Those qualities are plentiful in the opening “Afraid of Love” that grabs some of Tower of Power’s brass-styled accompaniment as August sings about her shyness of falling for someone. Backing singers, sounding similar to Aretha Franklin’s Sweet Inspirations, also pipe in.

Sugaray Rayford, brings his husky pipes to “I Won’t Say No,” percolating with a scorching combination of percussion (that’s the great Lenny Castro on congas), funk and blues. It’s one of this disc’s clear highlights.

August conveys red clay poise in a voice that elicits similarities with Shelby Lynne, Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Bramlett. That suits the simmering Feat vibe infused in “The Cure,” whose lyrics of “They say I might survive/If the cure don’t kill me first” originated from Barrere (who also contributes guitar) as he and August faced the cancer that took his life. Hers is thankfully in remission.

It’s a short musical hop over to The Wood Brothers, whose quirky, altogether delightful “Honey Jar” is a wonderful if unusual cover (it’s the disc’s lone non-original). August sings “Honey dripping off your spoon” with requisite sultriness and her band almost steals the song away from the Brothers in a version that pops in the most jubilant ways.

She rocks out with soul on “Blues is My Religion,” taking biblical teachings to task as Braunagel cracks his drums while August completes the song’s title with “..and I don’t need nobody else.” There’s some peppy tropicalia too in the island sway of “I Ain’t Lying,” a cool change-up and a logical extension of the album’s sunny-side-up sound.

The upbeat soul/blues that is August’s sweet spot returns to close the set with “Born Yesterday” as she sings “C’mon and take my hand/I’ll lead you to the light.” Guitarist Josh Sklair rips into a Duane Allman slide solo, the horns add explosive blasts and the R&B singers bring it home.

The often festive, even life-affirming ‘August Moon’ might have taken some time-consuming twists, turns and delays to arrive, but it shows that singer/songwriter Allison August is too talented to keep these songs hidden away. Hopefully her next release will appear without a similar extended wait.

Take her advice and turn it up as loud as it will go.

“Afraid Of Love”