THORBJØRN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO ~ Come On In
![[Image: R-14689942-1579701381-6559.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/u9TLmbyL6OSpHERqKHiPoh7XYx0=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-14689942-1579701381-6559.jpeg.jpg)
The cover artwork sets the tone. Blues of the noir(ish), free-form persuasion. Free-form because there’s other stuff happening too – a bit of jazz, some funk, a fair dollop of soul, some psychedelia, swing and rockabilly moments – blues fusion, I guess. I can’t imagine him singing anything else – a good strong baritone evoking Billy Gibbons, Everlast, Tendai Mtawarira, Chris Rea and JJ Cale which is, errrrm, interesting! Cool murky bass as well - reminiscent of Mark Sandman (Morphine), on occasion.
Denmark probably wouldn’t be the first place one might think of when the blues are bandied about – be that as it may, these are nicely executed songs, competent and loose so not sure why I’m feeling less enthused than I should be, all things technical taken into account. There’s just not as much warmth and depth as there might be, IMHO, not picking up a whole lot of passion / colour / commitment – should perhaps give it another spin, to be fair. Risager has an enviable voice for the blues, don’t get me wrong and it’s a listenable album - ‘modern’ without sacrificing the bones of the blues. They’re better known in Europe where their performances sell out so I’m sure they must be charismatic in person. Worth a listen, I think – something a little off the beaten track.
Footnote: I go and look at reviews for the sake of interest, after I’ve formulated my own thoughts, so it was interesting to come across this quote by Thorbjørn Risager from one of them “The blues is my outlet. And this time, I’ve written some songs about having doubts about whether I’m the right place in my life. However, there is something fundamental in my songwriting that seeks the light. Which is about clenching your teeth together, saying, ‘I’ll just keep moving on’.” http://bluesrockreview.com/2020/01/thorb...on-in.html
"On and On" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKeFSucNEA4
"Nobody but the Moon" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8lcXN4Qyc (this is probably my favourite)
The title track ...
The cover artwork sets the tone. Blues of the noir(ish), free-form persuasion. Free-form because there’s other stuff happening too – a bit of jazz, some funk, a fair dollop of soul, some psychedelia, swing and rockabilly moments – blues fusion, I guess. I can’t imagine him singing anything else – a good strong baritone evoking Billy Gibbons, Everlast, Tendai Mtawarira, Chris Rea and JJ Cale which is, errrrm, interesting! Cool murky bass as well - reminiscent of Mark Sandman (Morphine), on occasion.
Denmark probably wouldn’t be the first place one might think of when the blues are bandied about – be that as it may, these are nicely executed songs, competent and loose so not sure why I’m feeling less enthused than I should be, all things technical taken into account. There’s just not as much warmth and depth as there might be, IMHO, not picking up a whole lot of passion / colour / commitment – should perhaps give it another spin, to be fair. Risager has an enviable voice for the blues, don’t get me wrong and it’s a listenable album - ‘modern’ without sacrificing the bones of the blues. They’re better known in Europe where their performances sell out so I’m sure they must be charismatic in person. Worth a listen, I think – something a little off the beaten track.
Footnote: I go and look at reviews for the sake of interest, after I’ve formulated my own thoughts, so it was interesting to come across this quote by Thorbjørn Risager from one of them “The blues is my outlet. And this time, I’ve written some songs about having doubts about whether I’m the right place in my life. However, there is something fundamental in my songwriting that seeks the light. Which is about clenching your teeth together, saying, ‘I’ll just keep moving on’.” http://bluesrockreview.com/2020/01/thorb...on-in.html
"On and On" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKeFSucNEA4
"Nobody but the Moon" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8lcXN4Qyc (this is probably my favourite)
The title track ...
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
