Blues Karloff - Light And Shade (BLUES BOULEVARD Records - A Division of Music Avenue)

​The appeal of Blues music generally is its ability to evolve and to offer a vehicle for different performers to claim their own territory within this very wide-ranging genre. This is the background to our regular 'Track the Track' feature on the Blues Show where we listen to three different takes on the same song to see how different performers interpret a particular song whilst also recognising the evolution of instruments and amplification which has taken place from the earliest to most recent recordings. This brings us to Blues Karloff. Claiming to be rooted in the British Blues-Rock boom of the 60's and early 70's, this high energy ensemble have selected eight well-known standards and given them a truly appealing update. I would add the phrase 'almost punk' to their description as it throws conventions to one side whilst stamping their very personal branding onto the product. The CD has lots of overdriven guitar playing off a really solid rhythm section - with drums noticeably at the forefront - as they present their own takes on the likes of 'I Ain't Superstitious' , All Over Now' and 'Evil'. Leading from the front in every way is vocalist Alfie Falckenbach who has an eclectic delivery which, in my view, works superbly. The CD also includes five of their own compositions and marks an increasing confidence within the band. In truth, I found their earlier CD offering 'Ready For Judgement Day' (also on Blues Boulevard) a little too 'different' for my tastes but I'm now revisiting and enjoying this too -  maybe as a result of having now 'got it'.