The queen of slide guitar — the Finnish musician & singer-songwriter ERJA LYYTINEN — will release her tenth studio album “Stolen Hearts” this April. [Scandi Release day: Feb 3rd.]
The release coincides with a tour in the UK. [Dates below video]
We had a listen:
Title track “Stolen Hearts” is a light-hearted — perhaps allegorical — story about a man-eater.
This number has the most vigorously aerobic ‘n’ squelchy guitar we have heard in a long while.
“Rocking Chair” is an electric blues number that may have been influenced by Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” …
With thick, dark and distorted bass and a shameless voice that peeks from the murk. Clearly, Erja is no Robert Plant — so don’t expect lust and wonder from her vocal chords — nevertheless, the percussion is fascinating and the glittering guitar work is more than impressive.
Morality song “24 Angels” is a luxuriant & thawing folk-rock number with an earnest burnt-umber vocal and guitars that sigh as they hesitate teasingly … this song has a trembled heart of emotion.
“Black Ocean” is slightly progressive in quality. It starts with a discharging riff and a steady chuff-chuff of rhythm. An organ smears around clean edges.
This number has an unmodulated mechanism with plenty of funky grooviness. And just when it might become decreasingly monotonic — we are presented with the brilliance of an elongated “Gilmour” style guitar. This is inspiring and magnificent.
Classic electro-blues and fizzy rock with a voice that is sharp enough to poke through the hypnotic riffs… together with trade-mark bottleneck that’s so lightly dealt it’s like wafting fireflies in the ether…
Stolen Hearts is released in the UK on 7th April 2017 mixed by Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones)
Words : Neil Mach 2017 ©
Link: http://www.erjalyytinen.com/
APRIL 2017 UK TOUR DATES
Square & Compass, Ilminster
Sunday 9th April 2017
The 100 Club
Record Release Party
Tuesday 11th April 2017
Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion
Wednesday 12th April
Durham Gala Theatre, Durham
Co-headline with Chantel McGregor
Thursday 13th April 2017
Hard Rock Hell – Blues Festival
O2 Academy Sheffield
Saturday 15th April 2017
RAW RAMP 
2 Comments