2024 – Hokahey! Records
By Phillip Smith; Dec. 21, 2024
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
I love the riveting energy Micke
Bjorklof & Blue Strip pour into their music. This Finnish band
sure has a way of making the blues sound magical. Their latest album Outtakes
is a nine-track collection of unleased songs ranging over their thirty-year career.
According to Bjorklof, “The album
offers fans an exclusive look at these previously unreleased tracks that are
still full of soul, groove and emotion”. With Bjorklof, front and center on
vocals, harmonica, and guitar, he is joined by Lefty Leppanen on slide,
electric guitars, and vocals, Seppo Nuolikoski on bass, Teemu Vuorela
on drums, and Timo Roiko-Jokela on percussion, malletkat and vibraphone.
Outtakes begins with the spirited and freewheeling “On Vacation”. Originally recorded during the Ain’t Bad Yet sessions in 2014, this instant-favorite sure rejuvenates my soul. I love Bjorklof’s firey vocals and Lefty’s slide guitar performance on “Way to Go”. The song hits me like a gallop through Mississippi swampland. I’m captivated by the funky and bluesy rhythm which drives the beautiful and intoxicating 2002 track “Silver Moon”. Loaded with delicious slide guitar, this one is absolutely brilliant. They bring the album to an attention-grabbing end with “Spooky Ride”. This caffeinated track is loaded to the brim with smoldering musical jam. Everything fits together wonderfully tight as Vuorela guides them with his fierce and masterful drumming.
It’s a thrill to hear this Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip Outtakes album. The glimpses it provides into band’s three-decade long history makes a great listen for existing fans, and new listeners both.
For more information about Micke Bjorklof, visit the website @ https://www.mickebjorklof.com/
Check out other PhillyCheeze reviews
featuring Micke Bjorklof and visit
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=micke+bjorklof
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