The prolific MOTU® -- short for “Music of the Universe” and the stage name for Long Island-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Dr. Richard Michelson -- is back with album No. 24. With a discography dating back to the early 2000s, MOTU has embraced a wide breadth of blues rock on his records. And Awareness or Illusion is jammed with 11 original songs steeped in heavy influences from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. In fact, “For Jeff," the longest song on the album, allows MOTU to pay homage to Beck with some serious fusion guitar backed by a jazzy workout from drummer Ed Modzel. If you’re not familiar with Beck’s work, this track will have you digging into the man’s back catalog.
Elsewhere, vocalist Dee Michelson sings lead on several songs and harmonies on others, while MOTU handles main vocal duties on tracks like the bouncy “There’s Only Us” -- a feel-good song with some Slash-style soloing mixed with pedal steel guitar and mandolin. Michelson’s best performances come on the pretty Americana/country-tinged “I Look to the East” (which open-minded radio programmers should consider putting into rotation) and the harmonica-driven Delta blues grinder “Too Much Bullshit to Normalize” (you might even want to call it the new U.S. national anthem…).
In short, Awareness or Illusion is all awareness and no illusion. The blues (and beyond) is alive and well in MOTU’s hands.
Track Listing
1. Just Shut Up, Stop Talking To Me
2. Something Has Changed
3. There’s Only Us
4. For Jeff
5. Too Much Bullshit to Normalize
6. You Always Got Something Say
7. I Look to the East
8. Horizon
9. Awareness or Illusion
10. Easier To Be Blind
11. A Company Man
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