At 29, Pete Cornelius is possibly Australia's youngest veteran of the blues scene. He released his first album at 13 and has worked tirelessly in the studio and on the road ever since. Pete Cornelius & The DeVilles continue as the gun guitarist's predominantly 'blues' band. His band on 'Groundswell,' however, heard on last year's Tumbleweed, was purpose-built for Cornelius' cross-genre work.

This time all guitar, bass and drums were recorded live to deliver a big tasty slab of blues, soul, funk and rocking country across 11 tracks. Opener "Drinking The Blues" is classic Cornelius with a side order of horns and piano. Then he really gets his git-tar on for a fine version of Rev. Al Green's "Love And Happiness."

More heroes are covered including Otis Rush ("Right Place, Wrong Time"), Tom Waits ("Cold Water") and Ray LaMontagne. His take on the latter's "Repo Man" is an infectious ripper. A sassy nod to Freddie King serves up an irresistibly crooked rhythm-play on "Woman Across The River." But Cornelius' own eclectic set of songs prove just how naturally soulful and versatile he is. Written and tenderly sung for his baby girl, "Goodnight My Love" is right up there with "Isn't She Lovely" or "Little Ray of Sunshine." Cornelius was inspired to write "Talkin' Bout New Orleans" after "jamming with a few cats" from The Big Easy, despite not getting to the city in person. Well, maybe he was switched at birth 'cause the track is soooo bona fide, you can almost smell the crawfish cooking!