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.
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.
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