Gulf Coast Records has another new album — they’ve been on a roll. This one is by Diana Rein, called “Queen Of My Castle.” It’s co-produced by the great Michael Leasure, the spectacular drummer (and even nicer person) for the Walter Trout Band.
Rein is a Chicago blues singer and guitar player by way of Romania, where she was born. She now resides in Southern California but her love of the blues started at the age of 8 in Chicago. Influences such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince and Philip Sayce come out in her writing and guitar playing. Rein is a hard worker who keeps pursuing the never-ending quest to reach her artistic ceiling.
My favorite song on this album is the hard rocking “Heat.” It’s pretty raw and gritty and while definitely blues/rock, it reaches out a little into other genres. Almost sounds like The Cult to me, off of “Electric.” I really dig the outro jam.
The slow, SRV-like “Zoe” has soulful licks and emotional playing. “I Can’t Quit You” is simply throwing strikes down the middle of the blues plate. “My Love” brings a minor key Latin flair, which is a nice change-up in the sequencing. There’s variety on this LP within the 15 songs.
Diana Rein is following in the footsteps of other female singer/guitar slingers in the modern blues scene today, such as Samantha Fish and Ana Popovic. If you are into their music, definitely give “Queen Of My Castle” a listen.
— Jon Siembieda
- Diana Rein
‘Queen Of My Castle’
Release: June 21, 2019
Label: Gulf Coast Records
