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Mick Kolassa—For the Feral Heart—Endless Blues
Mk112022

“Michissippi Mick” is the name Mr. Kolassa is sometimes called,
referring to his origins in Michigan and the years he spent in
Mississippi, though it doesn’t include the fact he is now based in
Memphis, Tennessee. It perhaps also suggests that he is now

confined to one style of blues, as many of his albums reveal. This
release though goes even further.

This is Mick’s album of love songs. The first few numbers are
blues, from the jaunty blues-rock of ‘Running To You’ and the moodier ’Elegant Angel’, he moves
on to a cover of Dave Mason’ s (of vintage UK rock band Traffic) ‘Feeling Alright’, which has Mick
and Jeff Jensen trading guitar licks to strong effect. Next up is the slow, minor key ‘Love Ain’t
Supposed To Make You Cry’ with Mick’s soulful vocal certainly conveying heartbreak, followed
by the jazzy blues of ‘Easy To Love’ and ‘I Keep Looking’.

‘I Left My Heart In Birmingham’ is a country-ish ballad, and ‘Love In My Size’ is an acoustic
singer/ songwriter-ish piece, a little 70s Bob Dylan flavoured. ‘Forever Sometimes’ then takes
another detour, down to Jamaica this time for a reggae styled piece, and then across to Trinidad
for a calypso-flavoured number (albeit again there’s a hint of reggae). ‘Run Away With Me’ is a
delicate acoustic number with Alice Hasan’s violin making a major impact, before the set closes
out with the jazz standard ‘As Time Goes By’.

A rather eclectic album, then. It’s perhaps a more rounded portrait of Mick than we’ve had

previously, and certainly worth a listen!

Norman Darwen

The Norwegian Soul Band —Groove Your Hips—2021
Mobster Recordings

Every now and again you come across a recording that grabs you
by the ears and will not let go.. This is one of those. It was pure
serendipity. I was looking for something else and there it was!
Sensational

The band describes itself as soul/funk and that’s what they do
—with a vengeance. Here we have a bunch of highly skilled
musicians, keys, horns, drums and the full funk, bringing you
some outstanding original music with titles like ‘Groove Your
Hips’ and ‘Get Your Funk On’ , that James Brow would revel in. But, that’s not all. Covers there
are too, some rather surprising like a terrific version of the massive Billy Paul hit ‘Me and Mrs
Jones’ and a cracking version of a song called ‘No Sleeping’. Funk epitomised. “Funk it up”
Outstanding.

This is an old album but I can’t wait to hear more. The band have just played at the prestigious
Notodden Blues Festival. Long may they groove on. Fabuloso!!

Ian K McKenzie