Paul Kossoff - Forty Four Years.
Having to put up two of these rather sad little reminders in
a month is a bit much. Koss now dead far longer than he lived. Very sobering.
I'm currently hard at work on the 'Fire And Water'
issues for the 50th anniversary, and rather enjoying rediscovering that album
somewhat. It's the one I play the least but there are some lovely guitar
moments on there for sure.
Not much to say here that hasn't been said before. It would
be nice if Koss was still here, and I wouldn't care too much what he was
playing these days, just so long as he was happy whatever he was doing. The
legacy of his talent to move people with his playing is still widely available
to anyone who wants to check it out.
What was it that still makes people listen? Well, Paul
Kossoff had the ability to know when he'd done enough. When to let go, when to
hold back and when to stop. Below is a prime example of when to stop playing,
and this is a great song by Mike Montgomery. Koss guides us in and then lets
Sless tell the story. Lyrically it's
fantastic. and musically it's very underplayed. Lots of places where there could
be a guitar part and fill but there is nothing, just rhythm until the solo.
When Kossoff does come in the guitar is driven through a Leslie cabinet and the
playing is perfect. Venom and pathos in immaculate harmony. It's around 32 seconds long, and that's it.
Kossoff has said all he needed to say. Over the long end refrain, where most
guitar players would try and fill every second - there is nothing. The 32 seconds was enough. Less is more.
Enjoy...
