By DJ Monk
Cirkus Prütz – the band take the second part of their name from that of bassist Jerry Prütz – may well hail from the southern Swedish province of Östergötland, but they could quite easily be found jamming on stages in a certain other southern region, that of Texas, as they play a brand of bar room blooze that evokes the spirit of the likes of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughn and, most especially, ZZ Top.
‘White Jazz – Black Magic’ (which also bears the subtitle of ‘More Stories From The Left Hand Path’) is very much rooted in the sound of the deep south, drawing in places as much on the sound of the swamplands of Florida and Louisiana as it does the dusty highways of the Lone Star state, with nods to the legacy of the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and, almost inevitably, the Allman Brothers permeating especially the more genteel moments of the album.
From the raucous opening stomp of ‘Leave Me Alone’ through the dancehall shimmy of ‘Aim To Please’, the poignant, Gary Moore-esque instrumental ‘Blues For Fallen Brothers’ (dedicated to two of the band’s former guitarists, Robert ‘Strängen’ Dahlquist and Mikael ‘Fässe’ Fässberg) to the thump of ‘Ready To Go’ and the cheeky ZZ Top tribute of ‘Hats ‘n’ Strats’, ‘White Jazz – Black Magic’ is steeped in the vibe and nonchalance of the deep south.
The performances are first class, from the appropriately taut, precise rhythms of Prütz and Per Kohlus through the wonderfully evocative and passionate twin guitar work of Franco Santunione (whose production is also superb) and Christian Carlsson (who may be known to regular ÜR readers as fulfilling the same duties in Swedish retro-rockers The Quill). The latter also steps up to the mic, and in places sounds eerily like Billy Gibbons, especially on the likes of the aforementioned opener and the subsequent ‘Shotgun Wedding Blues’, although there are also shades of Johnny Van Zandt in his delivery (check out ‘Hell To Pay’ to hear what I mean).
‘White Jazz – Black Magic’ is an affectionate and passionate album, and one which serves as the perfect soundtrack for a balmy sunny evening with a few beers, and few like-minded friends and a determination to have a good ol’ doorstep session.
‘White Jazz – Black Magic’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.