Heat

On "Heat", Knut Reiersrud, Scandinavia's premier blues guitarist, is not only at the height of his powers, but also want to unleash everything from his enviably substantial musical box of tricks.

Vocally, Reiersrud channels Curtis Mayfield to Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to John Lennon to Cat Stevens, with perfect restraint and clarity, yet remains readily identifiable sonically as much as his trademark red hat and bristly goatee do visually.

Lyrical preoccupations with the environment and nature in general, shoot through the album like veins or roots, particularly on "Sacred Mama", "Wood" and "The Heat". While much of the album clearly has its roots in 60s blues rock, this is a peculiarly 21st century take on familiar chord patterns and tricks, whether evoking the spirit of Billy Roberts' "Hey Joe", or stirring the atmospheres of Miles Davis' "In A Silent Way" into a funky and baroque country blues-rock gumbo.

The feel of the album often conquers J. J. Cale's great laidback tunes, Eastern world music vibes can be heard and there's even some Bach in there! The album's concerns have a great urgency at this point in time, and the feeling that this is music for the end of history is keen.