2013 – Hokahey! Records
By Phillip Smith;
Aug. 23, 2014
Whether tackling the blues
Texas style, in a Mississippi swamp, or with a taste of funk, Finnish band, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip plays
with excellence. Singer/rhythm
guitarist/harmonicist Bjorklof is
backed by lead guitarist Lefty Leppänen,
bassist Seppo Nuolikoski, drummer Teemu Vuorela, and organist/pianist Brian Coogan. After
the Flood is a splendid recording of twelve original songs which are immersed
in blues and roots music.
“House For the Blues” energetically
gets things started. Bjorklof sings about tearing down a
shaky old barn and building in its place, a house for playing music. Leppänen
tears it up with great guitar licks reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s. Then, Bjorkloff
tops it off with some howling harmonica.
The ‘wow-factor’ on this track is high.
I love the swampy tones
created on “Jack the Black Hat” and “Ramblified”. Killer slide guitar and superbly haunting backing
vocals give the song about Mojo-man Jack the Black Hat an aura of
coolness. Then there’s “Ramblified”: a timeless
and outstandingly written treasure. This
one screams traditional country blues.
There’s a funky side to the
album too. “Water From Your Shoe”, breaks
out the funk midway through, following a borderline gospel beginning fitting
for the church scene from the film, The
Blues Brothers. “Gumbo Mama” is a
fun track as well. Lefty lays down a funky groove while Bjorklof rolls out vocals a la Anthony
Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers on the chorus.
Industrial percussion and the
dark boozy lyrics of “King Alcohol” bring to mind one my favorites, Tom Waits. This one is an unexpected
treat. “Woogie or Die”, takes a walk on
the dark-side as well. A cool revved up
intro and ominous unsettling chords set the mood for this heart-racing song
about being forced ‘Sopranos style’ to play music for a private after-hours party.
Micke Bjorklof & Blue
Strip is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill blues band. The songs these guys have to offer are forged
from top-notch and original writing, and performed with an excellence in musicianship. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
