Eric Gales

Middle Of The Road

Wayward bluesman casts off his demons

“Now that’s how you start a record,” drawls Eric Gales after the choppy opening chords of Good Times, and his confidence is understandable. Following a period marred by drugs and jail time, Gales is now clean, and while you’d hesitate to call Middle Of The Road a concept album, the most powerful moments here come when he addresses his step back from the brink. There’s a searing honesty to the rocket-fuelled reggae of Change In Me, while the rootsy Help

Yourself benefits from boy-wonder Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, and the heavy soul of I’ve Been

Deceived finds him burning his own backstory with a blazing solo. There are misfires: Gales’ ode to his wife on

Carry Yourself is well meant but mawkish. Still, you’re never far from another highlight, whether that’s the manic finale Swamp or the head-cutting duel with Gary Clark Jr on Boogie Man. The straight-and-narrow suits him just fine. [HY] Standout track: I’ve Been Deceived For fans of: Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz