Ted Russell Kamp is one of those artists that you have known about for years without ever fully exploring in finer detail. Although, without doubt one always on the lookout to enlist new fans. Even twelve albums into a career carving out many accolades in several guises, Kamp never loses sight that fresh horizons are there to be sought and DOWN IN THE DEN is the perfect accompaniment to expand them. Like so many artists operating in the Wild West of unrestrained Americana, Kamp refuses to anchor into a single camp preferring to drift around a landscape gathering influences like an eager treasure hunter.
The first word of warning is that DOWN IN THE DEN is no half hearted effort. Weighing in at just two minutes short of the hour mark, it certainly falls into the heavyweight category. The perfect stopping point on this lengthy journey is the pivotal track 'Rainy Day Valentine', holding court in the #7 slot on the CD or download, which doubles up as the closing track on side 1 of the vinyl release. Out of the half a dozen numbers preceding this central piece, 'Waste a Little Time' rises to the top, but like so many pretenders it is inundated with numerous other tracks sparring for your endorsement.
Bass guitar is the speciality of Ted Russell Kamp's selling point to the music recording community, but on this record a plethora of other instruments are employed by our protagonist to demonstrate one multi-talented extraordinaire. Trumpet plays an effective role in numerous parts to add a soulful twist to an eclectic mix, but still within the scope of nailing a strong contemporary roots rock remit.
Not only does the self-produced DOWN IN THE DEN encapsulate a whole host of different sounds, there are collaborations with numerous other artists. Kamp is known for his work with Shooter Jennings, who coincidentally appears on the album's lead off track - 'Home Sweet Hollywood'. Another name known around these parts is Sarah Gayle Meech, a guest on 'Word for Word'. This and a range of other tracks in the second half have to ultimately bow down to the steel-driven country stomper 'My Turn to Cry' on the podium of the album's elevated moments. To align with the aforementioned pivotal track, Kamp chooses to end the album in similar measured climactic proportions with the tender duet 'Take My Song With You'.
DOWN IN THE DEN is music out of LA, growing its roots in Memphis until finding its soul in New Orleans. On the other hand it could quite conceivably be anywhere on the vast highway of American music. From a status of north by birth, west by residence and south by soul, Ted Russell Kamp is a fine purveyor of a quintessential Americana sound and a worthy exponent of a style embedded deep into a nation's soil.
