Alan Ovington's Album Review - 10 October 2024

Legendary South African blues rock, country, and Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist, Steve Louw’s highly anticipated third solo album Between Time was released last month.

'Between Time', arrives decades into a long career, stretching back to the 1990s, when Steve partnered with South African record producer Kevin Shirley while fronting Big Sky, his vehicle to acclaim in his native South Africa.

With 'Between Time', Steve explores those moments that fall outside the strict constructs of time with songs that have past, present, and future, while using imagery that’s both timeless and present. Cut live in the studio with his band, the music has a transcendent quality, a chemistry that blends craft and inspiration into something mystical.

Hearing the band discover the inherent passion and tenderness within the songs is part of the pleasure of this album. Their chemistry is evident on the low-down shuffle of “Do Me Good” and the country honk of “Alibi”. They swing hard on “Get Real Gone” and ratchet up the tension on “Flowers on The Graves of Doves”, a track that conjures the mystery of early R.E.M.

You feel the band as much as you hear them, as on “Highway to the Sun”, the eight-minute exit to the 20-song collection. Louw is as much a member of the band as he is its leader. His steady, propulsive guitar playing providing as much of a connective tissue as his unguarded voice.

The collaborative energy extends to guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa, who accentuates the Blues on “Cruel Hand of Fate”. Added to that is Jim Moginie, whose eclectic guitar sound evokes the natural world’s power on “Giants Walk The Land”, and Hammond maestro Lachy Doley teases out the reassuring comfort of “Streets of Rain”.

Between Time is a record filled with compassion and heart, a defining album for an artist who has consistently delivered great-sounding music over several decades.

* Alan Ovington's Rock Zone can be heard 7-9pm every Wednesday on 103.6FM Tameside Radio (repeated Friday 9-11pm) and On Demand at tamesideradio.com. More rock news at therockzone.net. Twitter @tamesiderock

** Picture credit Jacqui van Staden