Samantha Fish

Kill Or Be Kind

rouNder Kansas blueser packs in the soul on her sixth solo album.

Samantha Fish has spent the past few years quietly establishing herself as a bluesrooted guitarist/singer to be reckoned with. In the process she hasn’t only removed herself from the gender ghetto (“Ooh, look, a woman! With a guitar!”) she’s also developed an eclectic rootsy style that separates her from today’s (mostly male) profusion of 12-bar, Stevie Ray worshipping traditionalists.

Kill Or Be Kind is not a by-thebook blues record. There’s actually more in the way of soul

and R&B, putting her closer in line with Beth Hart on the likes of Love Letters (with a less virtuosic but still sound vocal). Fish cherry-picks her favourite bits from the old masters (see the deliciously fiery cigar-box guitar of single Bulletproof, as well as nods to Freddie King in several solos) and fuses them with Stax-flavoured brass, southern warmth, classy pop balladry in Fairwell My Fairweather and nicely sleazy swagger in You Got It Bad. ■■■■■■■■■■