Erja Lyytinen – Voracious Love (Ruf Records).

Finland is not the usual place that you’d look for the blues but slide guitarist Erja Lyytinen is turning a few eyes in that direction. The eponymous title track opens with a screech of feedback and she’s off and running on a soft rocker with a grinding riff. Don’t Let A Good Woman Down is blues at high speed with Erja’s slide guitar punctuating throughout. Crowes At Your Door is slowed right down. Is it The Black Crowes at your door? Overall, this bluesy rock upstart has an eerie feel and Bon Jovi comes to mind. Bed Of Roses is an acoustic ballad. It’s not spectacular and it’s a bit Eurovision in parts. Marco Hietala takes over vocals on part of the song, although some of the harmonies are a bit over the top, and there’s even some violin breaks. However, she’s back to form on Bird which has good rock beats and her slide guitar fits in perfectly. If it was a bit more emotive vocally it would be a top track. She does get there, but just not soon enough. Gilmore is another acoustic ballad with gentle guitar breaks in keeping with the overall feel.

I Think Of You has sultry, understated bass (Matti Vallius) and keyboards (Harri Taittonen) with snappy drums (Rami Eskelinen) supporting. This is late night, grown up music. Oil And Water is a rhythmic, upbeat middle of the road rocker with Erja using slide guitar often and always to good effect. Her accent comes through on this one and that’s no bad thing. Can’t Fall In Love is a rock ballad that follows the formula and as such, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Her powerful vocal and obligatory guitar break are both fine. One Thing I Won’t Change has breakneck drumming and guitar. Good pumped up power pop and very nice guitar work. The very short Soul Of A Man has gentle sounds regressing almost into Folk and The Road Leading Home has an eerie opening with slide guitar and keyboard setting the scene. The only problem is that it doesn’t go anywhere as it is too short! The final track, No Place Like Home, is old style Americana/Folk and it’s another shortie, just Erja and guitar making for a pleasant finish.

http://www.rufrecords.de/
http://www.erjalyytinen.com/

David Blue.

24 Pesos – Busted, Broken & Blue (Ourgate Records)

Busted, Broken & Blue is the first album from up and coming British blues band, 24 Pesos. It’s an album full of original songs, all written by front man Julian Burdock, and played by a band that has a passion for the blues as well as funk and soul. The opener, Maxwell Street, has acoustic & electric dobro and a strident vocal from Burdock. The band delivers a contemporary blues with an ancient feel. Never Saw The Devil is a chunky song. Funky blues with a fat bass line from Silas Maitland and a full sound with Moz Gamble (organ) and guitar on form. Standing At The Station is bringing the blues into the 21st century. Just dobro, voice from Burdock and hi-hat from Mike Connolly before the full band joins in – top class. In The Summertime flirts with hip-hop in parts but this is still essentially a blues song. One thing that it does have is a great singalong chorus. Lowdown Sweet & Dirty confirms that the Burdock is the mainstay of the band and they could well struggle without him. This is a grinding rocker with rounded edges. Gamble also gets another chance to be in the spotlight.

Live My Life (Just To Sing The Blues) has that hip-hop feel to it again but the fuzzed harp and throbbing bass are the highlights. Mean What I Say is a funky blues and the band manages to capture their energy in the song. However, sometimes Burdock’s vocal just doesn’t go that extra yard to bring the song to its full potential. However, he does maintain his high standards on guitar. Still In Love With My Baby is the obligatory slow one and it’s a Bon Jovi track if I ever heard one. It’s not as good as them but it will have the crowd singing along to it. The eponymous title track comes late on in the album and it is worth waiting on. Burdock lets it all out on this swing blues rocker. Day Becomes Night is a slow blues with sultry night time sounds – all grown up stuff. Neckbones & Gumbo is a bit of a strange title and it is hard to pigeonhole this one. I’m getting hungry listening to it though. As with the rest of the album, it is Burdock on guitar that shines through.

http://www.24pesos.com/

David Blue.