MICKE BJORKLOF & BLUE STRIP – Ain’t Bad Yet (Bluesland/Hokahey)

MICKE BJORKLOF & BLUE STRIPThis is the sixth album by Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip, who hail from Finland. It is all top notch blues-rock delivered in a confident and polished manner.

The opening track ‘Last Train to Memphis’ comes hurtling out of the station at a steam driven pace and sets the mood for what is to follow. Swampy slide guitar abounds in the following track “Troublemaker”. There’s a growling guitar intro to ‘Rain in Jerusalem’ and Micke’s voice punches out lyrics. The title track is a slow blues ballad with a spartan feel in comparison to the rest of the album. ‘Rat Chase’ has a funky groove to it and breaks the mould of the more traditional songs on here. The CD concludes with one of my personal favourites ‘Blame it on the Bright Lights’ and then the chanting slow burner ‘In Chains’.

All the members of the band are on form and there are some particularly tasty guitar licks and blues harp playing. Plenty of variety in the styles of blues being played here and there isn’t a poor track amongst them.

The band formed in 1991 and the current line-up has been together for fifteen years and it shows in the professionalism and production of this offering. Only eleven tracks, so, not the longest album in the world, but they are all quality.

If you like the blues, this is definitely one for your collection.

Ron D Bowes

Artist’s website: http://www.mickebjorklof.com/en/

Album trailer – filmed in Wales!