Brittany Howard and Ruby Amanfu's Contrasting Vocals Highlight Third Man Blue Series 7-Inch

This recent Blue Series 7-inch 45 rpm single from Jack White's Third Man Records features two up-and-coming vocalists. Brittany Howard is the lead singer and one of the guitar players in Alabama Shakes, one of the hottest bands on the indie scene at the moment. They mix good Deep South blues boogie with thick slabs of buzzsaw rock. Southern rock for the new millennium. Ghana-born Ruby Amanfu has been heard most recently on many collaborations, including Jack White's debut solo album, but has many songwriting credits for tracks by other artists and a few full-length albums and EPs under her belt.

Side A is a cover of cult '70s folk-rock musician Rodriguez' "I Wonder." This version keeps the original's upbeat, snaking rhythm but fleshes it out a bit more. Bass, played by Jack White sideman Dominic Davis,  is featured prominently and plays one of the main riffs while the guitar is mostly crunchy rhythm with some slide/steel thrown in. Bluesy piano and electric organ is provided by former Mars Volta keyboardist Ikey Owens. There's even a reggae-like instrumental break in the middle of the song. Howard and Amanfu trade off verse lines while singing the chorus together. The contrast between the two works very well. Howard, usually a belter, tones it down a bit but still provides a slightly raspy, bluesy swagger. Amanfu's is more in line with soul music with a multi-tonal thing going on. Howard's voice supplies the ground floor for Amanfu's to spring off from.

Side B is a cover of blues legend Memphis Minnie's "When My Man Comes Home." This one is a bit more of a slow burn and keeps in line with old school acoustic blues. Howard plays acoustic guitar on this song as well as sings though the lazy horse clippity-clop blues rhythm is mostly driven by plaintive drums, waves of organ and tinkling piano (played by Cory Younts of Old Crow Medicine Show). Howard's vocals sound just as earthy as Memphis Minnie's herself and Amanfu's take on a warbling 1920s quality. The two meet in a breathy chorus that fits the song well. The only problem with "When My Man Comes Home" is that its too short. Just when its getting good it ends.

Something about this particular collaboration between Brittany Howard and Ruby Amanfu seems natural and special, possibly because, if both play their cards right, their careers could take off explosively. This also shows that a full-length album by these two could easily happen and would probably be great.