Texas blues is a substyle of the blues. It knows many variations, the style is recognisable, expecially because it’s played with a lot of swing. The guitar plays here in an important role. Patrick Carlsons & Bluebirds are relatively unknown in the Netherlands, but that could change. ‘Blast from the Past’ is the new CD from this Swedish blues band. This sixth album they’ve recorded in the style of the late Fabulous Thunderbirds. The band is back in the original setting since their first debut (“Walking on Thrills”) in 1997. Petter Person playing slide guitar, Magnus Jonsson with the upright bass, Peter Hamberg at the drums at Patrick Carlsons singer/guitarist. The pianist Johan Johansson is the new man within the band. Fourteen songs, and from the first number you’ll think they’re from Texas. The opening song ‘Angel Lee’ is a number kind to the ear. Here we’re immediately taken into a mix of Tex-mex, it’s beautiful how they used that typical Tex-mex sound. Followed by ‘Get a Grip, upbeat and provided with a typical recognisable Texas blues guitar sound. The hammond organ they’ve known to mix perfectly in the background, not overpowering. ‘I’m Not Your Baby’, very softly in the background a piano, where after a solo of the Hammond organ. The instrumental ‘Blues Caster’ with a solo guitar who strongly reminds me about young Jimmie Vaughan. In the number “Twenty Four Seven” we here Magnes Jonsson’s bass, pushing and pumping into the number, where the intro of the guitar sits nicely in the lower tones. Halfway a solo that’s played with plectrum against the back of a bridge. With of course a nice reverb like we know in the Texas blues. Even the Cajun isn’t missed such as ‘Get Your Dirty Hands Of My Baby’, a number which can take the listeners breath away. ‘King For A Day’ full of gas into the blues corner again, a number that makes me think about Lester Butler ‘Red Devils’. No mouthorgan, but the sound, nice and “gritty”, especially the guitar solo, with bass and drums delightfully conducted, making it such a memory. A CD with a musical offer and then especially from the Southern states of America, brought by five people from Sweden. A real vintage sound, “Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for take-off with the Bluebirds”!

Translation by: Marleen Crook-Geebelen