There is no doubt that popcorn is the collective name for catchy rhythm & blues and related genres. We were already wildly enthusiastic about volume 1 in this series, of which you can read the review here again. Besides the excellent quality of the chosen tracks, getting to know lesser known artists can certainly be noted as a plus. We are therefore delighted that compiler Little Victor is launching a sequel to this, via the KokoMojo label. No fewer than 28 tracks, which at the time in dancing 'The Popcorn' in Vrasene, will have provided the necessary atmosphere, fill this cd. Exciting rhythm & blues goes hand in hand with Broadway songs, tangos and relaxed instrumental tracks.
Volume 2 of the 'Popcorn Story' continues on the path taken by the previous volume. That means 28 songs that showcase the popcorn genre in a fantastic way. In short, 'dance floor fillers' that are also extremely enjoyable at home.

Two new releases on Fruits de Mer Records in October ’21:  a great cover version of VDGG’s Pawn Hearts by composer/keyboard player Rob Gould.  And a spectacular EP ‘Superstrung!’ from the band The Insektlife Cycle with heavy psych and progressive rock.

​This is nice introduction to the jazzy & bluesy music of Malaysian singer-songwriter Lyia Meta. A surprise maybe, but definitively a positive one! Recommended to fans of Rita Coolidge and Nina Simone. Perhaps also for you?

​Although she goes by the nickname Miss Lady Blues, Kesha Boyd doesn't just categorize herself as a blues artist. With that sultry and soulful sound, she also fits perfectly into the Soul Blues category. And she does it with conviction, with a certain class that only a diva can radiate.

​Jackson Browne always brings a message without preaching, makes a statement, loves people and the world.  Downhill From Everywhere is an soulfull album about desire!

October 12th will be the 50th anniversary of Gene Vincent's death. A motorcycle accident shattered his leg, leaving Gene limping and in constant pain. Yet that did not prevent him from putting on dazzling live shows together with his band The Blue Caps. The biggest hit scored the black leather-clad Gene with 'Be-Bop-A-Lula'. And yet he meant more than that one monster hit. We get a more than beautiful overview on this 36-track album. All songs were recorded in the period 1952 – 1966 and show the influence he had in rock & roll. The album contains a number of original songs that were later successfully covered by Gene. In addition, you also get a number of covers of original Vincent songs.
Enough material for a wonderful album, whatever this 'The Gene Vincent Connection' is. Traditionally, you get a 36-page booklet, executed in color, with beautiful photos, all information about Gene and the album tracks. Recommended!

​The band The DogTown Blue Band have released a very divergent album with their third full-length. A few very successful cover reworkings are masterpieces for the band. The basis is unmistakably the blues with influences from jazz, swing, Latin and rock. Handsome release..!

Chances are you may not know the trio Fire (Greater London, 1967-1970), but nevertheless: Paul Brett (later of Vinegar Joe) played some mean guitar with the group for a while and its main pillar is future ‘Strawb’ Dave Lambert. Lambert sang, wrote nearly every tune and played the guitar, the keys and percussion. They made some nice outtakes as Friday Chyld (1967) and released a fine single in 1968, to be found on many a compilation: ‘Father’s Name Is Dad’ c/w ‘Treacle Toffee World’ holds the middle between Mod and Psych, a trick The Herd, The Attack and The Who were capable of. It flopped. The Fire story gets quite interesting with a batch of demos (1969) never released before on which Fire clearly opt for the psychedelic format, e.g. the fabulous, ten-minute ‘Alison Wonderland’ and the impressive, eight-minute ‘Green-legged Auntie Sallie’, clearly a source of inspiration for Marc Bolan! Eventually, the trio would release a concept album in 1970, ‘The Magic Shoemaker’. Now seen as a classic, it equally flopped and Fire called it a day. In many instances the concept overrules the music, but ‘Only A Dream’ is a wonderful song with Dave Lambert’s haunting voice to the fore.
Cherry Red have released each and every available track they could get hold of,  including demos of course, plus the 2007 live rendition of ‘The Magic Shoemaker’ by the original line-up! An astonishing collection, augmented with a nice booklet.
Radio 68  will play Fire on Sunday 26 Sept., Tuesday 28 Sept. (the 1966-69 output) and Wednesday 6 Oct. (stressing the LP).

​On their second album, Thomas Lemmer and Andreas Bach, have incorporated elements from other musical genres. The music is chill-out, ambient and you can nicely relax to it!

​Now Allen Finney is proudly promoting his new release 'Picture Window'. His third full-length in a series of recordings with producer Robert Ivanson. Together they entered the Kapsylen studio with a talented rhythm section and recorded twelve original songs. They open with the cozy roots and jazzy 'Dust Won't Let Go'. Ted Hector piano arrangements, Per Sjöberg tuba and the horn section of Tore Berglund and Leon Falk are immediately a constant for the intended sound. Finney's pleasant and rough voice timbre also leads the dance in 'No Other Way'. The down-home vibe also enchants songs like 'Slice of Blue' and 'Pour Another Cup'. Old fashion style also includes the bluesy 'Do the Claw' and 'Streetlight'. "Take a Little Walk" is a radio-friendly song that diverges sharply from the folky "All the Foxes" and the drunken man's song "You Don't Have to Go to Hell." The slow blues 'What I Told You' is colored with wonderful piano tunes and subdued guitar riffs. A quick quick trip to New Orleans with the jazzy inspired 'Lou is Leaving', before the hypnotic 'Going Home' takes off. Highly recommended release….!

​Beautiful interesting stories from a real Scottish singer-songwriter, who also plays American countryfolk.  Ultimate time to discover!

​This third studio album by the Finnish synthesizer wizard Kebu contains songs about dreams, during night and day. This music is very melodic and will certainly appeal to fans of electronic music!

​What the fuck are you waiting for?  Go see them live the next few months in Europe, together with The Ballet Bombs en TankZilla.  Enjoy!

​After the previously released first volume, 'Rockin' Rollin' Covers' now also gets a sequel. Again you get 30 songs, most of which you definitely know in the original version. Some of these tracks have been covered countless times, while you rarely find a cover version of other songs. In short, enough reasons to go on a voyage of discovery.
It is a fact that only the very best covers were selected. 'Rockin' Rollin' Covers, Vol. 2' is highly recommended.

​'Red, White and American Blues' is not a protest album, although it does contain some protest songs. It's not a Black Lives Matter album, but in these songs Black Lives matter. It's a purely American sounding album, it's a set of songs about a broken country and its broken people.
In thirteen original tracks, featuring guest appearances from vocalists Patty Griffin, Regina McCrary and Aubrie Sellers, the album takes the listener on a musical journey from the Dead Thumb Blues of South Texas through the swamps to American Roots Rock, West Coast Spoken Jazz Poetry and the folk stages of London. Contemporary society is central to the songs. Blues, roots, folk en some swampy tracks. Highly recommended release..!

With 'money', the necessary evil, as the theme, the KokoMojo label recently released a beautiful compilation with, how could it be otherwise, 'Money, Money, Money' as the title. The review can still be read here . Since for the most among us the money does not just blow into our house, work has to be done. That brings us straight to the thematic album 'Off To Work' compiled by Little Victor. While it was often no fun for whites in the middle of the last century, the African-American worker had no choice, so he or she had to take the most dangerous and dirtiest jobs in order to earn a living. Enough material for the rhythm & blues artists to express it musically. You get 28 tracks about work, the menger wage, losing the job, the hard labor and finding a job.
With these formidable songs that can be categorized under blues and rhythm & blues, 'Off To Work' rightly pays tribute to the African-American community in the last century, working under less favorable conditions. Great album!

​As a vocalist, Fia Ekberg knows how to create a clean atmosphere: friendly, melancholic and innocent.

​With volume 20 we dive for the eighth and very last time into the rich musical tradition of Louisiana and New Orleans. As the title of this volume 'Mardi Gras In New Orleans' indicates, composer Mark Armstrong focuses on the music that provides Mardi Gras with the necessary atmosphere.
Mardi Gras or 'Fat Teddy', is the day before Ash Wednesday, better known as Carnival, which is exuberantly celebrated in New Orleans. Parades with colorfully dressed participants are accompanied by energetically playing bands. Mardi Gras also has its typical colors, namely purple, green and gold. During the parades, all kinds of gadgets are thrown out, especially the necklaces or beads are very popular. Whoever wears the most around his neck, therefore, enjoys a lot of attention. As said before, music is of the utmost importance. The 28 tracks, from well-known artists, regional performers and two New Orleans bred Italian artists, provide a captivating glimpse into the amusing and danceable music that brightens up Mardi Gras.
We can certainly conclude that both this album, as well as the seven previous ones that placed the spots in Louisiana and New Orleans, introduced us to formidable recordings that artists from those regions released in the past. That is precisely the advantage of compilations like this, that you only get the most beautiful rhythm & blues presented on a tray. The next volumes in the Southern Bred series will take us through the music of Tennessee and Arkansas.

​Writing of your feelings is a superb way to let go the passing of dear family.

​With 'Fatty Patty', the subtitle of this volume, this miniseries also ends. A series that introduced us to lesser known and often obscure artists within rock 'n' roll and rockabilly. Songs in styles like jive, stroll and bop that not only score high quality, but can also get any party going effortlessly. This album also lives up to those expectations. During 28 tracks you will once again be amazed by the number of songs that, despite their quality, could not reach the general public when they were released. Songs that didn't make it at the time, but which can now happily be enjoyed with great sound quality. Beautiful series! Keep up the good work compiler Marcus Juárez!

​It’s incredible that the British seventeen year old Lucy Thomas can deliver these songs on this wonderful album. I predict for her a wonderful career, and highly recommend this album to everyone! Lucy can really sing these covers of pop songs, soundtracks and Broadway songs. And that’s a rare thing these days!

​As we reported earlier, 'Stroll-A-Rama', just like its brothers 'Jive-A-Rama' and 'Bop-A-Rama', received a sequel with a second volume. The reviews of the last two have already appeared on this site. Now it is of course the turn of 'Stroll-A-Rama', another atmospheric album with danceable grooves that contain rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly and doo-wop. Thirty tracks, carefully composed by Mark Armstrong, with beautiful artwork from Henrique San, catapult you like a tsunami back to the fifties and early sixties.
Anyone who has volume 1 of 'Stroll-A-Rama' in their record collection knows that they want volume 2 next to it without hesitation.

​Glad Tree is hopefully not a one-off project because 'Bambù' can grow for me like the slender reed blows in a psychedelic wind. 

​How to feel lucky when you live at the gate of the Arctic?  Just take your strings and tell us a story.  One moment you’ll dance, the other moment you’ll cry. That’s live, isn’t it?