2018-04-04
Over the course of their three-disc career the Claudettes have evolved from a piano and drum instrumental duo to a four- piece featuring piano, drums, bass, guitar and vocals from three members. While the instrumentation is still spare with a blues punk foundation the fuller sound gives the band room to explore more territory. With singer Berit Ulseth channeling Exene Cervenka of X or Natalie Merchant and the males vocalists (Johnny Iguana and Zach Verdoorn) adding lower register grit, the band powers through art-rock," November", rock, "Don’t Stay With Me" and "Naked On the Internet" and pop, "Pull Closer To Me" and "Give It All Up For Good". The title track is a rocking instrumental while "Bill Played Saxophone" recalls mid-60’s Brit-pop with its soaring harmonies and "Influential Farmers" and "Utterly Absurd" each venture into psychobilly territory with their stop/go rhythms and mash-up of vocals and instruments. No scandal here. This is great stuff. Smitty
review by Mark
Various Artists
Soulsville Sings Hitsviile
DEVON ALLMAN'S HONEYTRIBE
SPACE AGE BLUES
GRAND MARQUIS
Blues and Trouble
JOHN MAYALL
TALK ABOUT THAT
DANNY BROOKS & LIL MISS DEBI
ARE YOU READY?
CHICAGO BLUES ALL-STARS
Red, Hot & Blue
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