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VARIOUS ARTISTS Black Snake Moan New West ***

This is the soundtrack of a forthcoming movie that is set in the hardcore blues territory of north Mississippi. The title is taken from a Blind Lemon Jefferson song and the black snake in question has nothing to do with a reptile. The plot sounds somewhat dodgy - a black former blues player (Samuel L Jackson) tries to "cure" a white wild child (Christina Ricci) of her "nymphomania" - but the music has plenty of virtues and cracks along at a fair pace. Jackson is convincing in his singing and there are interesting cameos by the likes of RL Burnside, Son House, The Black Keys and the North Mississippi Allstars - although the relatively unknown Jessie Mae Hemphill and Precious Bryant provide two of the best tracks, Morning Train and Standing in My Doorway Crying. www.moanmovie.comJoe Breen