★★★
Warren Haynes is overworked and underrated. At the end of 2014, the renowned Allman Brothers Band guitarist ended his 20-plus-year tenure with the group, primarily to focus on touring his own band Gov’t Mule, building the label he has founded and releasing more solo records.
Ashes And Dust is his third solo album – an Americana-infused outing with New Jersey newgrass band Railroad Earth on board, drawing heavily on country and roots music traditions.
Haynes has brought together some 30 years of material and whittled it down to an expansive 13 tracks. For the most part, the signature guitar jams are missing here, replaced with a more traditional song structure that tips its hat to America’s bluegrass heritage. That rich, heavy Gibson SG sound has been replaced with a more nuanced fingerpicking style on acoustic slide guitar, the shift complementing Haynes deep, earthy vocals. Songs like ‘Word On The Wind’ and ‘Is It Me Or You’ showcase Haynes’ songwriting touch and ability to recreate an evocative landscape.
While Ashes And Dust is a considered album from a compelling guitarist and draws on a wonderfully rich period of American music, it does feel as though Haynes’ strengths haven’t yet been fully utilised.
Warren Haynes’ Ashes And Dust is out now through Provogue/Mascot.
