ROOTSTIME...September 2007

I never thought I would review a Greek blues band in my life, let alone a GOOD Greek blues band, and when this happened, one would expect a band that would do covers of well known songs, such as "Sweet Home Chicago" or"Hoochie Coochie Man" and other covers you hear for the  millionth time as a reviewer of blues cd's.

Instead, what we have here is a mix of good traditional blues influences, played  with great skill and feeling, and  vocals by a singer called Paul Karapieris, who sounds like Tom Waits or Beefheart or the new blues hero Ian Siegal, but most of the time like all 3 of them, he also is a great harp player, and the Chicago blues influences, mixed with his gritty, Tom Waits-like voice, form that unique sound for this Greek blues bands second CD.

But..what makes the sound even more special is their love for mixing odd en experimental noises with their music.

There is nothing against trying something new, but in this case, it spoils some of the fun.

Take for instance "Crossroad Ritual" a good blues song, until it sounds  like somebody is grinding pebblestones, and somebody else is playing with some baby's music box.

If you keep in mind that the CD is only just over 40 minutes, it's a pity even more.

But luckily this happens only a few times, so the balance stays on the "good" side.

If this band keeps the urge to experiment a bit under control (their sound is original enough without this) they might become big outside of Greece also.

Paul Karapiperis  in the first place, but also the rest of the Small Blues Trap, deserve an international audience in my opinion. And after 30 years of listening to blues for a job, I should know by now.


Ronny Bervoets