Earlier this year, when announcing his plans for a new album, Booker wrote a mission statement of sorts, discussing his deep fears about institutionalised racism in the United States.
Much of that concern is shared on the 10 songs on Witness, a reference to the Gospel notion of bearing witness as well as speaking out.
Booker’s trick is to marry his outrage to infectious dark grooves (The Slow Drag Under), clever syncopated electric guitar playing (Truth Is Heavy) and stacks of harmonies, including the voice of Mavis Staples on the funky title track.
• Benjamin Booker. Witness. Rough Trade.
• Four stars (out of five)
Single download: Witness
For those who like: Sam Cooke, Ray LaMontagne
— Shane Gilchrist
