Taken from Rosetta West’s powerful live album, Gravity Sessions, ‘Suzie’ is a simmering, gyrating, slow-burning, gritty blues rock opus.
This was recorded, mostly live, at the legendry Gravity Studios in Chicago. Rosetta West are veterans of manufacturing smoky sweet rocking blues rock, with a nice hit of psychedelia, and spiritual themes. Leadman and vocalist Joseph Demagore’s sultry, slow growls command their performance with a raw energy that few other rockers today possess. With Herf Guderian and Mike Weaver on the drums and bass respectively, Rosetta West is a timeless blues rock force to keep in mind.
Suzie (Gravity) is a perfect example of their immense capabilities. From its very first bars, you’re hypnotized by the guitars that set an intimate, introspective tone. The track unfolds with seductive grace and rhythm, drawing you into its hypnotic, sultry soundscape. Kind of like being in the presence of a captivating pole dancer, who knows her every move has you hooked.
The core of Rosetta West – Suzie (Gravity) is Demagore’s vocals. He croons emotionally about the object of his obsession. All the ways in which being with her felt so right, all those years ago. As he expresses his pleasure with ‘oh yeahh’, you can feel the primal erotic nature of this connection. But she’s a ghost of his past, visiting him every night. Every tone, every word here is expressed with controlled intensity and swagger, exploring themes of love, obsession and thin line separating our reality from the paranormal. The vocals and instrumentation pair like jack and coke, each elevating the other to another level, making this arrangement feels exactly like having a few strong ones.
A standout aspect of “Suzie (Gravity)” is its intense atmospheric feel. With its minimal, razor-sharp production allowing each of the few elements here to shine bright and strong, while maintaining the overall biker bar vibe fantastically. The taste of this song remains in your mind long after its final note. Like with any good whiskey, ‘Rosetta West – Suzie (Gravity)’ is a track to savor slowly and preferably, in a dimly lit place. A great addition to your after-hours playlists.
Stream ‘Rosetta West – Suzie (Gravity)’ on Spotify here:
