​The formation The Kelly's Lot  was founded in 1994 by Kelly Zirbes, a folk singers with a heart for blues. The release "Where And When" is an acoustic poetry. Kelly’s flawless voice is approached in a heavenly way by those acoustic guitar strings. No heavy drum parts but rather subdued acoustic songs. And that is what love to have in the year 2021!

​2018 was the year in which Elmore James would have turned 100. Sadly, he died at the age of 45 on May 24, 1963 in Chicago. And yet his legacy is particularly great in music and blues history. To commemorate all this, Finnish singer, guitarist and harmonica virtuoso Ismo Haavisto, drummer Matias Partanen and Estonian guitarist Andres Roots played a tight performance at the Augustibluus Festival in Haapsalu, Estonia. Five songs found their way into this EP, "Tribute To Elmore". The recordings don't always sound clear, but that just makes this notation authentic.
Hell yeah, the audience went crazy and the roof is gone! 

Atmospheric textures with a progressive touch balance between rock and ambient, with a rare experimental explosion.

​After four volumes filled with ‘dancefloor killers’, Little Victor aka The Mojo Man presents in the same tradition volume 5. For those who haven't figured it out yet, the title of this volume 'Party Time' is clear. With another 24 tracks Victor sucks you inexorably towards the dance floor.
This compilation also pays attention to a number of artists who gained world fame through the blues. Eddie Burns, John Lee Hooker and Bo Diddley are just a few of the well-known names. Together with lesser-known artists they provide sublime rocking rhythm & blues and a pinch of soul.
If you are in the mood for 24 high-quality catchy dance songs, then volume 5, just like the previous four volumes, is highly recommended. Start the party!

​The Reverend latest release "Supramundane Blues" is a dozen collection of some of his gospel favorites and songs inspired by faith and the quest for divine enlightenment. And that encompasses a range of styles, from Delta Blues to funk over soul, rock and Americana. He invited some soul mates such as Kevin Griffin (The Rev's meditation teacher), Mark Karan (Rat dog), keyboardist Steve Sirockin, Malcolm "The Minister of Bass" Oliver, drummer Chris Parker and percussionist Jason Hann. This extensive collection of "Supramundane Blues" bears witness to an influence as a balm for the soul. And then there is a five track second CD, featuring a "Psychedelic Trip To Mass". So, the circle is preliminary complete for Reverend Freakchild!

​So now there is "I'm Hungry", his 12th album. With various musical friends from Kansas City and Nashville, he recorded ten original songs and two inspiring covers. The music from barrel house boogie to straight-ahead blues, roots, rock and soul. Most of the songs on the album advertise the pleasure of cooking. Jimmy Bratcher is not only a culinary bon vivant, but also a skillful musician!

​If you like Belle & Sebastian, try also the Swedish trio Vivii.  A positive dream about life with musical inspiration from their youth.

​The recordings on this EP contain live sessions in vintage soul jazz style, and represent a journey back to the seventies. The interaction between the 3 musicians is genuine, recorded without headphones or acoustic separations. 

Freckle Face, Tjens Couter, T.C. Matic, Tjens Matic, Charles et les Lulus, Charles and the White Trash European Blues Connection, Arno and the Subrovnicks … Arno Charles Ernest Hintjens has recorded and performed under many an alias, but you have never heard him this introspective. Arno is just Arno on this record, and that’s more than enough. These past few years haven’t been too kind to Mr. Hintjens, who is battling an aggressive illness as we speak. Last year, he took the time to look back on life and work, and compiled a playlist based on the last forty-odd years of his career. The songs have been rerecorded in stripped down, pure versions. The world-weary voice of Arno is the most important instrument on ‘Vivre’, underscored by Sofiane Pamart’s excellent piano skills and Mirko Banovic’s buzzing bass. We get to hear ‘Les yeux de ma mère’ and ‘Putain Putain’ (with updated lyrics!), both benchmarks from Belgium’s musical heritage and history, alongside deepcut hidden gems like ‘Santé’ and ‘La vie est une partouze’. I would have loved a reprise of ‘Le lundi on reste au lit’, my favourite Arno song, however. Don’t take that as criticism, because this album is layered, effective and refined. Let’s hope it’s not the last hurrah of a legendary performer, but just another transitional stage in a rich and varied career. ‘Vivre’ is lust for life in the guise of a ‘piano au voix’ record. Recommended.

​“The Chicago Sessions", is a Krudtmejer Production. Chicago blues icon Jimmy Burns had a big impact on many other musicians. One of those artists who discovered the blues light through Burns is the Danish bassist Laust “Krudtmejer” Nielsen, whom he first met in 2013. The session took place in Denmark, but for Burns recordings Laust traveled to The Windy City. He moved into the JoyRide Studio with Jimmy. The record contains ten tracks, including three stories. Burns tells his blues story in an autobiographical way, albeit with musical accompaniment. Besides some great cover versions, we also find some original songs. The band sounds incredibly tight. And Burns? Well, he is very good on vocals… as always.
“The Chicago Sessions” are a highly recommended album!

​In the review of volume 37 in Bear Family's ‘That'll Flat ... Git It!’ series, we noticed that the label jumped from volume 35 to volume 37. We were informed that no date has yet been set for the release of volume 36. We are happy that volume 36 now has been released. Traditionally, each volume highlights a label that brought high-quality rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll to the market in the fifties. At this volume it is TNT Records. TNT stood for ‘Tanner ‘n’ Texas’ and was based in San Antonio. Tanner stood for Robert Tanner, owner of the label and Texas needs no further explanation. The label was active from 1953 to the early 1960s.
That TNT Records was synonymous for a dynamic sound and high-quality songs is proven by this disc. Both well-known and lesser-known artists recorded songs that have lost nothing of their power even today. The 34 tracks on this album will convince you immensely.

​Rob Lutes is a fantastic songwriter and a fine guitar picker. Skills that impress. Come around to enjoy.

​Chris Gill, a blues guitarist / vocalist from Mississippi. Open-minded and tolerant, he spreads a wide range of musicality to his fan base. Chris is a more than gifted acoustic fingerpickin 'guitarist. With his resonator or cigar box guitar he spice up his fat tunes. But he does not allow himself to be drummed in that one-sided corner. The blues music has no secrets for him. He learned firsthand from artists such as Jack Owens and Bud Spiers, but developed his own music style over the years. Now he is promoting the acoustic album 'Between Midnight And Louise'. And it sounds great and authentic!

BLK JKS experiments with guitar and brass driven afro-rock. Probably the greatest influencer on South Africa’s musicians.   Recommended!

​This reissue of an album from 1996 contains African rhythms, combined with Western jazz. The music creates an African atmosphere, and sounds joyful. 

​In the 1950s to even the mid-1960s, long before Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon in 1969, America was already dreaming aloud of conquering space. This was expressed in science fictions comics, but also in films such as ’It Came From Outer Space’, which hit theaters in 1953. The theme inspired artists who were active in a variety of genres. Great vocal songs, wonderful instrumental tracks, all from the period 1951-1965 fill this CD.
Additionally, movie trailers of 'Plan 9 From Outer Space', 'Blood Beast From Outer Space', 'Radar Men From The Moon', 'Invaders From Mars', 'The Thing That Couldn't Die', 'Robot Monster' and 'It Came From Outer Space' with their overwhelming, threatening sound will transport you into the nostalgic 'spatial atmosphere' of the fifties.
Traditionally, you will receive a beautiful 18-page booklet with information about the artists and their songs. In the ‘Destination’ series, this ‘Destination Forbidden Planet’ is another formidable release. Recommended!

​The world of Jo Kaiat is a jazz playground with virtuosity as ingredient.  I have rarely heard such a cohesion between piano, bass and percussion.

​The release "Memphis Moonlight", that's goosebumps from start to finish. This album should not be missing in the collection of any true blues lover! With a great all-star cast, “Memphis Moonlight”, which is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter and vocal powerhouse Deb Ryder, is undoubtedly her best performance to date. Highly recommended…!

​Intriguing album from this Bucharest duo named Balkan Taksim. Dance, drama, love..a human journey. Antique and modern at the same time.  Just love it!

Liverpudlians The Merseybeats, later to develop into The Merseys, were good mates with The Beatles and regulars at The Cavern. Although their stage repertoire consisted of tough R&B (‘Fortune Teller’) and straight rock’n’roll (e.g. ‘Long Tall Sally’), ballads were chosen for their singles. It worked, as ‘I Think Of You’ hit the no. 5 spot and subsequent releases (e.g. ‘Wishin’ And Hopin’) also made the Top Twenty. In 1964 co-founder Bill Kingsley left and by 1965 commercial success had dried up. The next year, Merseybeats founders Bill Kingsley and Tony Crane formed the duo The Merseys, taking their first single straight to the Top 20: ‘Sorrow’, years later to be covered by Bowie.
Regretfully, The Merseys stuck to the Merseybeat format which had become obsolete. Even Pete Townshend’s ‘So Sad About Us’ couldn’t turn the tide. By 1968, it was all over but both groups left us an impressive collection of covers and self-penned tunes that are worth discovering. Rather re-discovering, as many a release sank without a trace.
Cherry Red brings together all their recordings, plus some long-forgotten and never before released oddities: a Merseys 45 released under the name Crackers, one track by The Kingsleys (Bill Kingsley’s band), a home demo, etc.  (see “Details Album”). The Liverpool Express (another band put together by Kingsley) is not featured here, but bass-player and song-writer Johnny Gustafson is – and prominently so. Gustafson was in The Big Three before replacing Kingsley in The Merseybeats and releasing records under his own name, as Johnny and John (viz. Merseybeats drummer John Banks) and with The Quotations. I must say that these tracks sound more modern and more original than much of the later stuff by The Merseys.
A nicely illustrated booklet with a new essay accompanies this Cherry Red release. Radio 68  plays choice tracks on Sundays 23 and 30 May, as well as on Tuesdays 25 May and 1 June.

​About Clyde McPhatter, the previous artist featured in the Bear Family released ‘Rocks’ series, we mentioned that he had a profound influence on the development of soul music. That also applies to The “5” Royales. This quintet also knew via gospel to have more than one finger in the pie in the development of rhythm & blues, which would result in soul. The group started with gospel-soaked songs, but after their contract with New York's Apollo Records in 1951, the worldly rhythm & blues got more grip on their repertoire and the quintet turned out to be a real rocking rhythm & blues band, who also shined by the powerful, beautiful blending voices.
More rocking than the 31 recordings bundled here that The “5” Royales made for Apollo and King, no other vocal group did. This album is therefore an absolute must!

​Wren, or Laura Adrienne Brady, is a multi creative person that loves people and nature.  She finds her way in art, without losing its Duwamish roots.

​With this compilation you can enjoy Craig Charles’ personal choice in funk, and it’s worthwhile! He mixes classic tracks from legends with the finest of contemporary soul & funk. 

Soul, gospel, roots and of course blues. The 2nd album from Copenhagen act Trainman Blues will blow your socks of