ERJA LYYTINEN - The Sky Is Crying

Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Blues/Bluesrock | Heft: Jahrgang 2014, eclipsed Nr. 166 / 12-2014 | VÖ-Jahr: 2014 | Wertung: 7.5/10 | Label: Tuohi | Autor: AT


The Finnish blues guitarist, who was still quite shy and tense on stage during her live debut in Germany, has developed steadily over the years. Her singing seems more self-confident and her slide guitar playing sounds better than ever (e.g. in "Erja's Contribution To Jazz" - a tour de force with hot licks). The album's title allows us to draw conclusions about the basic orientation of the release: "The Sky Is Cyring" is one of the best-known songs by Elmore James, the blues legend who once catapulted the slide guitar into the focus of attention with her song "Dust My Broom" (to be heard here in a solid live version). With the exception of two original compositions, Lyytinen either celebrates numbers written by James or interpreted by him. The spectrum ranges from slow but still bubbling blues ("It Hurts Me Too") over charming acoustic blues ("King Of The Slide Guitar") to some midtempo tracks ("Hand In Hand"), which Lyytinen modernizes both vocally and with her guitar unerringly. Your best album yet.

Top track: Erja's Contribution To Jazz

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