News

Sep 20, 2023

Diesel's Bootleg Melancholy: A bluesy, multifaceted masterpiece that's worth every listen

Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) is not only an undisputed guitar virtuoso, but also boasts distinctive, enviable pipes: his smoked-honey timbre lingers, dripping with bluesy soul. Aside from saxophonist

Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) is not only an undisputed guitar virtuoso, but also boasts distinctive, enviable pipes: his smoked-honey timbre lingers, dripping with bluesy soul.

Aside from saxophonist Bernie Bremond (previously of Johnny Diesel & The Injectors) parping brilliantly on two album tracks and Lee Moloney – Lizotte’s drummer of choice for two decades – pummeling the skins like a boss throughout, Diesel plays absolutely everything else on this multifaceted masterpiece.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

“A space/ A time/ An arc/ A line…” – the pre-chorus in Forever, Bootleg Melancholy’s opening lead single, is giving Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap vibes. With its fuzzed-out guitars, standout track Backpedal – which personifies anxiety (“Late at night you stand there, darkening my door/ Just like a shitty rom-com flick from 1994”) – channels legendary ‘90s bands such as Dinosaur Jr., Pixies and The Breeders.

Elsewhere: Like A Dove, a Prince homage, reflects on the trappings of fame; the title track, a hat tip to Elliott Smith, references a mural Diesel’s regularly clocked during time spent in Silver Lake (“… with Elliott there up on the wall”); it’s impossible not to pull a stank face during the Corduroy And Crumbs guitar breakdown; and Starts With One features his very first beatboxing attempt (sounds like an actual kick drum, though!).

As for this scribe’s personal fave, Never Giving Up – it’s so goddamn sweet I could just about weep! Can. Not. Stop. Listening.

LABEL: BLOODLINES

RELEASE DATE: 13 OCT