Blues 601 Items

Dark cloud approaching – Black Magic Six set to release their fifth album in September!

The title of Black Magic Six’s upcoming album Black Cloud Descending really sums up the mood and thoughts of its creators during the album making process. It tells stories of constant escaping, accepting defeat, destinies of outcasts, failures, and drunks. Tales of the wiser, exaggerated lies, vague rumours, fuzzy states of mind and suspicious circumstances – even the thought in the back of your head about the possibility of redemption while standing on the edge of the cliff right before falling in; it’s all there.

The album’s first single Blood of Babylon is a garage rocking song about Sam Berkowitz’s relationship with Sam Carr’s speaking dog. Lyrical themes of the upcoming album are moving between reality and the imaginary world; remembering the moments at Belo Horizonte, how to use the powder that protects you from the evil eye, how it felt to wonder in the same alleyways with the werewolf of Istanbul or diving to safety to the bottom of a pond in Northern Savo.

Musically the album is on a narrow path. All the sounds heard on Black Cloud Descending are produced by Taskinen and Motherfuckin’ Japa. Sure, there are two exceptions; the gong heard in the end of Werewolf of Istanbul was recorded by Sakke Koivula at his home and the church bells in the outro of Full House Blues are ringed by unknown. Previous albums of BM6 had lots of featured vocalists and other guests playing guitar, percussions, and harmonica. People that one could call actual musicians. These past albums have had a softer, more versatile, and maybe even a livelier touch to them. This time around there’s only the core; the percussionist and the singing guitar player. The result is more raw, rugged, and rougher than before.

Black Cloud Descending is out on September 1st on vinyl, CD and digital platforms. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Mitro Kylliäinen at Kung Fu Audio along with BM6 during 2022-2023. Original art used for the album cover was made by Greger Grönholm. The band will play selected live shows to celebrate the new album in Finland, Germany, Denmark, and Spain. Dates of these gigs will be announced closer to the release date of the album.

A nice 3 LP vinyl boxset containing 34 tracks of alltime favourite Funk Hits. From Syl Johnson to Shalamar, from Cutis Mayfield to Barry White, from James Brown to Imagination, they are all ther !!!

“Awesome…explosively soulful guitar” – Guitar Player Originally released in 1985, this is the Grammy-nominated Alligator debut from the late genius of pyrotechnic blues-rock guitar. Roy had a spellbinding arsenal of chops and tone, and he called When A Guitar Plays The Blues “the best album I ever made.” Includes “Short Fuse,” “Mrs. Pressure” and “Hawaiian Punch.”

Ga-20 is back with a new 45 featuring an eclectic mix of covers. "As much as we love traditional blues music, we also have a soft spot for traditional country and songs that tell a story. These are 2 great storytelling songs," says Matt Stubbs, guitarist in the band. With the ambition to bridge the gap between blues and country in their own, distinctive way, Ga-20 is proud to present their swampy and bluesy take on Dolly Parton's 'Jolene', as well as a western-inspired and mysterious cover of 'Still as The Night'.