By Monk
Now and again, a band comes along which demands the simple answer to a simple question, and that is “where the absolute fuck have you been all my life?”. The opening riff of ‘Breaking The Stones’, the first track on this fifth album from Aberdeen native Gerry Jablonski and his band of electric warriors (sic) immediately asks that question – and then delivers an answer along the lines of “I don’t fucking care, ‘cos you’re in it now and I fucking love that you are…”
Very much putting the “heavy” into the term “heavy blues”, ‘105’ is an album very much of its time, reflecting the darker aspects of the genre as it addresses the issues facing the world during the period in which it was recorded (indeed, the band entered the studio on the day that Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border, inspiring the soaring ballad ‘Hard Road’ as an immediate response). Pursuing the ethos that art, and music, should reflect the reality around it, the songs neither hold no bars nor pull no punches as they extrapolate themes such as the cost of living crisis (the aforementioned ‘Break The Stones’ and the laconic ‘Breaking The Code’), climate change and environmental disasters (the acerbic ‘Heavy Water’) and mental isolation (the beautiful ‘Tiny Thoughts’).
But, it is also what a blues album should be, and that is timeless, as epitomized by the tributary ‘Koss’, which includes almost every Free riff you can remember, or the no frills drinkin’ anthem ‘Goddamn’, or the OTT hammering finale of ‘Dark Water’. Combine this with the feeling of genuine warmth and affection for what they are doing that permeates every groove of this excellent album and you have an album performed and produced with true passion, combining improvised excitement with a clear sense of purpose and direction.
Hang on, there’s a knock at the door… It’s Gerry Jablonski, and he’s brought both his band and his back catalogue to entertain me for the next few hours, so excuse me while I go get lost in the blues… C’mon on in brother, it’s so fucking good to finally make your acquaintance.
- ‘105’ is released on 25 November. You can get your copy HERE.
- Gerry Jablonski And The Electric Band play the Whitby Rocks festival on Friday 18 November, the Tenby Blues Festival on Saturday 19 November and the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival on Sunday 20 November. They then host their annual Christmas Heavy Blues Party at Café Drummond in Aberdeen on Saturday 10 December.
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