****Attention Chicago-blues-lovers!****

Då mitt skivbolag fyllt 27 år, så erbjuder jag dig som köper en skiva att få köpa en andra skiva (den med det lägre priset) till en rabatt på 50% (plus förhöjt porto). Gäller hela året ut eller så långt lagret räcker.

Då denna CD väger över 100 Gram, så skickar jag utan den utan sin plastask för SEK 42:-

-Up for sale is a brand new and sealed compilation CD named BACK TO THEIR ROOTS feat. Sven Zetterberg, Knock-Out Greg, Thomas Grahn & Thomas Hammarlund, playing them songs they first heard when they started to play 'Da Blues. Released on the premier Swedish blues-label CeePeeVee Records in 2004, CPVCD801.

Some fine ones:

The idea behind these recordings ain't new, but it's an interesting exercise. Each musician was given the task to name and record (live in the studio) his favorite and most influential blues tracks from the past. The results are very exciting. The gentlemen listed on the disc's cover - Thomas Hammarlund, Sven Zetterberg, Knock-Out Greg, and Thomas Grahn - probably won't be familiar to many readers beyond Sweden's borders. All are veterans, though, with extensive backgrounds. The overall feel here is classic-retro ... the era being 50's Chicago, with tough, tight grooves and seamless ensemble playing. Solos are short and to the point - songs are cohesive and cooperative.

/DWM Music, USA 2015/

Anyone who questions just how far and wide the influence of the blues has become need look no further than this project. Once upon a time it would have seemed absurd to think of four guys from Sweden going back to their 'blues roots.' Yet there's been a strong and vibrant Scandinavian blues scene ever since the so-called 'blues revival' of the sixties. And if further proof is needed, a single listen to this excellent collection ought to convince anyone that Sweden's blues bands are the equal of any. The gentlemen listed on the disc's cover - Thomas Hammarlund, Sven Zetterberg, Knock-Out Greg, and Thomas Grahn - probably won't be familiar to many readers beyond Sweden's borders. All are veterans, though, with extensive backgrounds. (For the record, Mr. Zetterberg is probably best known, and is considered something of an icon in his native land; Knock-Out Greg is the youngster of the bunch, though he, too, has several recordings under his belt). They're backed here by a revolving cast that includes various members from the bands each normally fronts. But Sweden's a small country, and all have played together at various times over the years. So there's a relaxed camaraderie obvious in every groove, a palpable sense of old friends gathering to make music together.

For this project, each was asked to bring in the songs that have either influenced or are simply among their personal favourites. And here's where it becomes apparent that all are pretty serious students of the blues; with the exception of "Little By Little," all the tunes are lesser-known gems that haven't, thankfully, been done to death. And while the sound here is decidedly retro - thick-toned harp, stinging guitar, stand-up bass, and lots of dirt - each approaches their chosen tunes determined to make 'em their own. So instead of mere imitation we get interpretation, though done in the classic style.

Zetterberg and Hammarlund both contribute vocals and guitar, as do Greg and Grahn, with the latter two also taking turns at harmonica. Additional instrumentation includes standard bass & drums, with some sparkling piano and a bit of sax to round things out. While there are occasional traces of an accent on the vocals, it's always very faint and never distracting.

The overall feel here, again, is 'classic retro,' for lack of a better term. The era is 50's Chicago, with tough, tight grooves and seamless ensemble playing the order of the day. Solos are short and to the point - the extended self-indulgence endemic to the genre these days is notably absent - and performances are absolutely top-notch throughout. And that's why this disc is so appealing. While the review format keeps things interesting over a generous sixteen-song playlist, there's a cohesive and cooperative ethos at work, with everyone collaborating for the good of the whole.

This is an absolutely stellar effort, proof that the blues are indeed a universal language and that there's no borders when it comes to the ability to play 'em convincingly, with both commanding authority and a lot of fun.

Very highly recommended!

/John R. Taylor, MN-Blues USA August 2004/

DETTA ÄR STOR musik. Amerikansk beundrarblues med Sven Zetterberg, Greger Andersson, Thomas Hammarlund samt Thomas Grahn i kompsällskap med några ruskigt spelsugna och duktiga kamrater.

Någon röst sjunger lite småfalskt här och där. Det slirar till i käften när greppet om munspelet lossar för tidigt. Ett gitarrackord halkar en aning snett. En trumstock glider av sargen. En basgång tappar fotfästet en sekund.

Men det spelar ingen roll. Eller också är det just det som spelar roll eftersom det är detaljer med mänskligt liv långt från putsad perfektionism.

För det här är rått, naket, spontant, ärligt, okrystat, engagerat och intensivt. 16 personligt utvalda blueslåtar inspelade utan konstigheter och pålägg. Låtar som haft en avgörande betydelse för dessa fyra medelålders och bluesdrogade veteraner.

Greger Andersson tar nästan livet av sig med ett råskitigt fett ljud i munspelet. "Steady" är förkrossande som en hel symfoni av Sjostakovitj i sammandrag.

Thomas Hammarlund gör om gitarren till en lasersvets och sjunger halvslött för att orka hem med "I met a strange woman" utan att börja gråta.

Sven Zetterlund svajar och sjunger gudomligt i "Losing hand" och plockar blues på gitarren som när en svulten spov sliter mask ur hård jord.

Thomas Grahn lägger ett skynke av gammalt rockeko över rösten i "I'm a natural born lover" och ylar skräniga kåtrop i sitt munspel".

Detta är Stor och nästan generande ärlig musik.

/Östgöta-Corren 2004/
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