​Selina Martin’s sound resounds extraordinary and very atypical. It's almost a fusion of dance and pop inspired synthesizer music. In addition to all this Selina also treated with a characteristic voice. She pushes her limits in that experimental music and thus creates something completely original. The twelve self-produced songs are colored with organic instruments, samples, existing synthesizers, plug-ins and electro-post-rock. The immersive sound technology is the perfect process for the first single 'Tangier', just as 'Two Storeys The Ground' will appeal to many dance lovers. Great…

​With 'All Shook Up' we are already at the third volume in the ten-part series 'More Boss Black Rockers'. Again, compiler Little Victor sought 28 rocking tracks from black artists. Tracks of which a large number you will certainly hear for the very first time. Naturally, a number of well-known names also populate this album.
If you listen to the previous series of 'Boss Black Rockers' and this 'More Boss Black Rockers', it is striking how much beautiful rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll was recorded in America during the half of the last century. Songs we didn't even know they existed. It is therefore gratifying that these songs are now reaching our ears through these series.

​Eric Demmer's sound as 'energetic blues with a mix of funk and rock 'n' roll. Demmer combines a variety of music styles and influences and gathered a whole cast of guest musicians around him in the DEMSTAR Studio in Houston, Texas. 'So Fine' is his solo debut. The blues/soul/rock veteran's saxophone work and vocals are supported by a solid all-stars band. In addition to all this, the album 'So Fine' is colored with Eric's soulful, soaring saxophone and rough voice timbre, and was produced by Mike Zito and Eric Demmer. Highly recommended release !

​New releases from Sendelica, Stay and the unknown Kevin Robertson. If you are familiar with the sound of Tame Impala, The Move or Charlatans, try these covers and the new material of Pete Bingham’s band Sendelica.  Maybe it will surprise you.

​A band named after a hit by The Kinks and with a beautiful cover that nods to those of the sixties, I immediately got a wonderful nostalgic feeling. Since the sixties musically gave me a super good feeling more than once, 'As Far As The Eye Can See' quickly ended up on my record player.
Who are The Autumn Almanacs unknown to me until now? The group was founded in 2016 by Dutch songwriter and bassist Casper van Beugen. Their base is in Cologne, which immediately ensures an international character. The singer is the British but Cologne resident Ian Maxwell, who unfortunately passed away on July 15th and was also known as a vocalist with KEEGAN. Other band members are guitarist Marcus Brand, keyboardist Stephan Jacobs and drummer Marrick Verhoeven. Bass player is Casper van Beugen as mentioned before. With 'As Far As The Eye Can See' the group is already on their second album. Their debut came out in 2018 and contained 6 tracks. For their second pitch, the band was expanded with guest musicians Lorenzo Ludemann on trumpet and trombonist Tim Hepburn. Trombonist Tobias Wember then replaces Hepburn on 1 song. What to expect? Catchy songs that revive the heyday of psychedelic sounds, flower power and the British sixties pop sound.
It is extremely positive that The Autumn Almanacs do not cover the hits from the sixties, but choose to evoke the atmosphere of those years with their own songs, in which they also succeed in a masterful way.
'As Far As The Eye Can See' makes you dream away to the golden sixties with compositions that make this 100% true. And also pay attention to the mixing. Even here nothing has been overlooked to achieve that authentic sixties sound. I'm already a fan!

​‘Through With Cool’ is Al Basile's 19th release as a solo artist and the third he has produced. It features 14 new Al Basile songs, with a band that includes current and former members of the Duke Robillard Band and Roomful of Blues, and adds BMA-nominated best guitarist Kid Andersen to the mix, as on last year's release ‘B’s Testimony’.

​With 'It's Doo Wop Christmas Time' the KokoMojo label continues the tradition of doo-wop marinated Christmas albums. In 2020 the label surprised us with 'Let's Have A Doo Wop Christmas' and the following year we got more of that beauty with 'More Doo Wop Christmas Gems'. The album that now takes possession of our playback device extends a nice sequel to that. Through 30 tracks from the fifties and early sixties you will be immersed in beautiful vocal performances.
'It's Doo Wop Christmas Time' is formidable doo wop, both in its pure form with a minimum of instrumental accompaniment, and in a more rhythm & blues, blues or rock 'n' roll form. Excellent soundtrack for the upcoming festive season!

​The release 'Old Californio Country' is an immensely charming album, clearly rooted in a quintessential West Coast Californian musical tradition that combines the very best in folk, rock and country. 

​As promised in the review of 'Christmas Around The World', let us now be surprised by the choice of Little Victor who had to put together this album in the middle of summer. The 28 tracks he has chosen can be classified as blues, rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll. After the spoken Christmas wishes of Johnny Otis, Little Esther & Mel Walker in the half-minute long 'Christmas Greetings', the tone has been set for more than 70 minutes of atmospheric songs from the middle of the last century.
It is not always easy to choose the right album with atmospheric Christmas songs. However, if you are enamored with rhythm & blues, blues, rock 'n' roll or doo-wop, then you will certainly find something to your liking in the rich selection of Christmas albums in the catalogs of KokoMojo and Atomicat. Merry Christmas!

​Beautiful French lyrics with content and rhythmic melodies will convince you of the qualities of Graow. The female Stromae is coming.

​The full-length release ‘Ace of Blues’ pays a tribute to the artists who inspired Angela throughout her career and features renditions of songs made famous by Elmore James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Otis Clay. The album ends with 'SRV', a beautiful and personal tribute to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. This one and only original song celebrates their friendship, creative connection and musical bond that Angela had with one of the most sincere artists. Strehli's lifelong dedication to the blues is fully realized here
Buddy Guy calls ‘Ace of Blues’: “Tough, soulful, and sexy. My kind of blues” while Bonnie Raitt says, “Always a fan, I’m so glad Angela’s back with a new album, putting her soulful take on this collection that pays tribute to her old blues friends.” Charlie Musselwhite says, “Angela has just kept getting better. She truly loves and ‘gets’ real deal blues and what it means. It’s great to see her share her blues with us all” while Maria Muldaur offers, “Her lifelong devotion to the blues is fully realized here! This is an absolute, must-have album for any blues lover.” What should we add to that..? 

​In the run-up to Christmas, we once again receive several albums that form the soundtrack for the end of the year period. KokoMojo and Atomicat come up with 3 albums. KokoMojo continues down the doo wop road with ‘It's Doo Wop Christmas Time’ and Little Victor compiled ‘Seasons Greetings From The Mojo Man’. The Atomicat label presents 'Christmas Around The World'. You can expect the review of the KokoMojo release here soon, but first it’s time for 'Christmas Around The World'. You can take that title literally, because the 28 tracks on this album are interpreted in various languages. Typical Christmas songs are complemented by twistin’ Christmas songs and some evergreens.
'Christmas Around The World' is certainly a valuable addition to your previously purchased albums of Christmas songs. Moreover, given its diversity, this album will delight the whole family.

​Thirty years and eight albums later, Rick Berthod now pays a tribute to Peter Green. Rick Berthod is a gifted guitarist who perfectly personifies the sound of Peter Green. Berthod also knows how to display that subtlety in his guitar playing. He plays with pure emotion and hyperbolizes the essential blues feeling. If you are not really familiar with the sound of Peter Green as a youngster, you will get a chance here with the release 'Tribute To Peter Green' by Rock Berthod.

​The Anatolian Dragon breathes enchanting fire into your mind.  Great album!

​The Commoners, a rock band from Toronto, Canada, embrace a rich Southern Rock sound with energetic guitar riffs, soulful vocals and harmonies. This self-titled release is an album that commands attention from the very first note. The album's lyrical themes permeate the very essence of humanity, embracing love, regret, ambition and fear with pervasive themes. 

​Enjoy the experimental style of the Portugese band Vila Navio.  The mix of traditional acoustic guitar and electronics ends in jazzy structures without losing their Portugese roots

​The names Pat and Evert probably won't ring a bell right away. But after reading the following, I will undoubtedly hear 'Oh yes, we know them'.
Pat is Patricia Maessen. Together with her sisters Stella and Bianca she formed Hearts of Soul, with which she represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970. When she moved to Antwerp in the early 1970s, she formed Dream Express together with Luc Smets (ex-The Pebbles) and her sisters. She also went to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977 with this formation, but as a Belgian participant.
Evert is Evert Verhees, better known as a member of seventies symphonic rock band Banzaï. Evert toured with the French Renaud and is still Julien Clerc's regular bassist. In addition, he often offers his services as a studio musician, composer and producer.
Unfortunately, Patricia Maessen passed away at much too young age in 1996. In the early 1980s, the duo recorded a number of self-penned songs with only piano accompaniment. The songs were never finished…until now! Professionally worked out arrangements and a select club of musicians did the rest. Those musicians are drummers Marc Bonte and Claude Salmieri, guitarists Eric Melaerts and Kevin Mulligan, guest guitarist Philip Catherine, percussionist Cesar Janssens, Bart Quartier on vibraphone, trumpeter Bert Joris and Jeroen D'hoe and the Ataneres String Ensemble. The album was recorded in the Morgan studios in Brussels with the famous Mike Butcher as sound engineer.
The title track opens and you are immediately in the flow. Pat's beautiful voice and the downright sublime arrangements are the tools for a beautiful ballad here. It even gets better in the somewhat jazzy tempo-changing 'Under Skin', where Pat's vocal range soars high. She shows that again in 'They Know My Name', including excellent piano playing. The talented musicians show what they have to offer in the instrumental 'Le Souffle'. 'Long Distance' seems more like the ideal song that, with some airplay, can become a classic.
Not only is 'Eternal Conversations' an appropriate title, the album is also full of beautiful songs that navigate between jazz and pop. This is an album that can compete with foreign productions.

​For ‘Spark and Flame’, Jim Keller penned 12 new songs and recorded them with many of his New York music friends. Keller's latest record 'Spark & Flame' deviates from the intimacy of his more recent solo work. Another impressive album. 

​Las is the name of the new project of piper Ross Ainslie.  Unfortunately their debut is boring from start to end. But, if you love the sound of Scottish bagpipes, don’t hesitate!

​The number of hits that Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller have put together is almost incalculable. It is therefore nice that in addition to the album 'Spotlight On Leiber And Stoller, Flip Our Wigs, The R & B Recordings', a second album is being released around this talented composer duo. While the album in the 'Spotlight' series focused on the rhythm & blues compositions of the duo, this second album, as the title suggests, focuses on rock 'n' roll. This compilation shows once again that many well-known artists owe one or more of their hits to Jerry and Mike. Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Ruth Brown, Frankie Lymon, The Drifters, Carla Thomas and LaVern Baker are just some of the artists who shine on this album. You will undoubtedly know many of the songs here in a different version. Such as 'Yakety-Yak', 'Lucky Lips', 'Ruby Baby', 'Love Potion No.9', 'Charlie Brown', 'Jailhouse Rock' and closing track 'Stand By Me'.
'Leiber And Stoller, That is Rock And Roll' is a wonderful addition to the previously released 'Spotlight On Leiber And Stoller, Flip Our Wigs'.

​This is Mud’s first album for Delmark Records. All but the first track is produced by Bob Corritore. Corritore plays harmonica on half the tracks splitting the harp time with another harp ace Harmonica Hinds. Guitarists include Rick Kreher on all tracks and Billy Flynn on all but the first track. The bass chores are mostly performed by E.G. McDaniel except for the first track which features Mud on bass. Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith is featured on drums on all but the first track. Also guesting is guitarist Mike Wheeler who plays on the first track. Barrelhouse Chuck plays piano and organ on all but the first track which includes Luca Chiellin. This is Mud Morganfield’s newest album. Included are seven originals and seven covers. The covers include Muddy Waters “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” and John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson’s “Good Morning Little School Girl.

​Although Wanda Jackson was originally a country singer, in the mid-1950s she became the first female successful rock 'n' roll artist to cause a serious earthquake. She had a mega hit with 'Let's Have A Party', as well as with 'Mean Mean Man' and 'Fujiyama Mama'. She was rightfully given the title 'Queen Of Rockabilly'. Recently, on October 20, Wanda was allowed to blow out 85 candles. An opportunity that the German Bear Family seized to pay their respects. In chronological order, as Jackson once recorded the songs, you get the songs. These are supplemented with more recent tracks. That she had a great influence on other artists is apparent from the number of times her songs were covered. This album even contains several covers of the same songs. In addition, you also get a number of originals that were covered by Jackson. It is therefore not surprising that a number of big names can be found here, such as Brenda Lee, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison and The Collins Kids.
Matching Wanda Jackson is an impossible task given her status. The fact that the artists present here give Jackson's oeuvre their own twist to a greater or lesser extent, means that Bear Family gives the 'Queen Of Rockabilly' a special birthday present with this album.

​Twins Andrew and David Williams were born on February 22, 1959 and are nephews of crooner Andy Williams.
It may sound strange, but 'Memories To Burn' was already recorded in 1995 in Andrew's home studio. Only now, 27 years later, the album is released. Ten songs were recorded and what immediately becomes clear is that 27 years after the recordings, this album sounds very contemporary. The country atmosphere created by the steel guitar blends sublimely with the voices of Andrew and David, which inevitably evoke a comparison with those of The Everly Brothers.
'Memories To Burn' is an album that is definitely worth listening to. Lovers of the sound of Don and Phil Everly will have a gem with this album by The Williams Brothers.

Sheila K Cameron writes poetic proza and songs.  With her soft clear voice, perfect pronunciation, she draw the attention to wisdom of life.  

​Internationally acclaimed artists, American soul-blues singer Annika Chambers and Canadian Blues-rocker Paul DesLauriers have unified their personal and artistic destiny. After a brief introduction in Memphis at the 2018 International Blues Challenge, they met again at a 2019 recording session and got married in August of that year. Now they have come together to create a powerful, soulfully rocking album that’s an inspiration and a balm for life in today’s world. GOOD TROUBLE started as Pandemic therapy, as newlyweds Annika and Paul got together with guitarist JP Soars and drummer Chris Peet in Peet’s Florida home studio. The collaboration grew and blossomed.