Brett Ellis -The Warriors Before Me (CD)

This time ace guitarist Brett Ellis visits a bunch of tracks penned by others, a tribute album if you will. He starts off with the obvious choice of one James Marshall Hendrix and Ezy Rider. A highly flammable version with some explosive and impressive guitar work. Moving on to usual suspect #2: Robin Trower and yet another killer interpretation of Twice Removed From Yesterday. For me, personally, Brett's vocals have been the weak link, but damn, the cat has really improved. Killer vocals, indeed! Tryin' Anyway by Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush also gets the proper Ellis treatment. Stellar guitar work with the unmistakable Marino wah-vibe nicely in place. Love the jazzy piece in the middle! Next up, maybe not that obvious, but an outstanding sadly overlooked track by Uli era Scorpions, Living And Dying, sung by Rick Reed with Allison Smith handling the harmonies. Wow, Brett does hand us some outstanding un-obvious classics, clearly proven by his stellar version of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow's Self Portrait. Damn good job, I must say. Lovely guitar work and killer vocals (Graham Heath handles the harmony vocals on this one)! I always love me some funky Pat Travers, obviously Brett and I share a similar taste. It clearly shows in his explosive interpretation of Go All Night. Not that obvious, but it is also on my list of "awesome timeless classics"; Black Sabbath's Supernaut, here given a new dimension by killer female singer Allison Smith. Next up, a highly unexpected track! Outta Love Again by Van Halen! Didn't see that one coming! Any good? You betcha ass! Better drum sound than the original and Brett puts his own twist on the guitar solos, which I like! Oh yeah!! The next track I used to fiddle around with myself, trying to learn the intro solo, which Brett has done a great job with. He's also given the track the proper heaviness it deserves. Which track it is? Bad News, originally recorded by G-Force, the short lived side project of Gary Moore featuring ex-Truk/Captain Beyond, now ZoomLenz singer Willy Daffern. Graham Heath, who handles the lead vocals on this one, sure has a strong touch of Daffern. Elis also gives proper treatment to tracks by UFO, Johnny Winter, Foghat, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, but before finishing off I have to mention the brick heavy outstanding version of ZZ Top's Neighbour Neighbour. Damn, it ROCKS big time!

Janne Stark

Label: Grooveyard Records

Year: 2016

Country: USA

Martin J. Andersen – Six String Renegade (CD)

Martin Andersen may not be a household name, but if you’re a fan of the Danish dynamite band Blindstone – you KNOW who HE is! Martin is an outstanding heavy, bluesy guitarist and an awesome bluesy singer, and now he gets the chance to shine on his own. Here he also plays bass and keyboards, while Klaus Agerbo handles the drums. Well, don’t expect a pop, metal or jazz album. When Martin goes solo, you will make no mistake he is the driving force behind Blindstone. He’s always had a cool funky touch that makes me think of Frank Marino. Well, he keeps on nurturing it here as well, but he also stretches out with some nice instrumentals. One, which I must comment on initially, is the highly surprising “The Trooper”, originally by Iron Maiden. Martin really puts his own spin on this one making it a cool instrumental hard rocker! There is also some more classic bluesy stuff here such as “Dirty Little Angel” and Johnny Winter’s “Stranger”. Another, not as far fetched, cover is “Strange Dreams” by Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush. A perfect fit indeed and a killer version! Despite being perfectly in Martin’s wheelhouse, he does put his own spin on it, especially when it comes to the extra spicy guitar tone. “Never Ending Climb” keeps the heavy, funky vibe going and this one is closer to the house of Blindstone, but it also has a different melodic quality added to it. “Freak Flag Flying” really gets the Hendrix mojo  going and “Funky State Of Mind” is what it sounds like. Funk rock with a nod to the old school of Parliament and Funkadelic. The album ends with the ten minute instrumental guitar orgasm featuring guest benders Michael Denner, Torben Enevoldsen and Soren Andersen. This track really builds up like a movie, starting all cool and melodic with a bit of drama coming in after a while. Halfway in the real guitar drama begins with one solo leading into another. A great album, giving Blindstone fans yet another bite to chew and the opportunity to discover the Danish guitar gems. Highly recommended!

Janne Stark

Country: Denmark

Year: 2015

Label: Grooveyard Records

PEBBLEMAN – Call Of Fate (CD digi)

Ok, I will admit, the name Pebbleman didn’t really hit me as an especially cool or serious one (it actually made me think of the Flintstones). However, opening track Loaded shows this band is 100 % serious! Fat and crunchy Strat riffs with a funky touch and a heavy blues vibe has serious written all over it! Who delivers these riffs… well, I am serious, but there is one Richard Pryor handling the guitar and songwriting. Nope, not the comedian who did Stir Crazy and Silver Streak. Pebbleman is a quartet out of South Africa. Heavy, bluesy, riff-oriented rock with touches of Robin Trower, Mahogany Rush and Philip Sayce, the latter especially when it comes to Pryor’s outstanding and explosive guitar playing, with that good old fat Strat neck pick-up sound. His style is very slinky and fluid, yet loaded with feel and attitude. The band also does a great rendition of Philip Sayce’s funky tune Love Is A Powerful Thing. Singer Jesse Jordan may not be your regular rough edged blues singer, but a more melodic style vocalist, still with a killer blues feel and his voice fits the style perfectly. The rhythm section comprising bassist Rob Stemmett and drummer Kevin Gibson, fill every crack and crevice with fat licks and groovy hits. This was a new acquaintance for me and a very nice one indeed! By the way, apparently this is the fourth Pebbleman album! I've got some searching to do!

Janne Stark

Year: 2014

Country: South Africa

Label: Grooveyard Records

Link: www.pebbleman.co.za