Gary Moore, Cass Lewis & Darrin Mooney - Scars (2002)

Having spent most of the 1990s indulging in the blues, Gary Moore has brought aboard some new blood in the interest of revitalizing his sound. With a vibrant rhythm section consisting of former Skunk Anansie bassist Cass Lewis and former Primal Scream drummer Darrin Mooney, Moore is surrounded by musicians who are talented enough to back his most subtle and explosive flights of fretboard fancy. Not that Moore has left the blues behind. "Ball and Chain" and the opener "When the Sun Goes Down" are deep, grinding outings in the spirit of Howlin' Wolf. "Rectify" and "World Keeps Turnin' Round," deliver Mountain-style blues-metal. Elsewhere, he moves further afield, with the drum & bass intro of "Wasn't Born in Chicago" and the techno touches of "Stand Up." There's also something for those who prefer Moore's gentler moments: "Just Can't Let You Go" is a sweet ballad that rises to two separate crescendos and ends with a trademark solo that echoes the classic "Parisian Walkways." --Dominic Wills