If you appreciate Blues-based music with Jazz overtones and some very intelligent guitar playing, then this is one to check out.
'Stolen Hearts' is the tenth studio album from Finnish singer/song-writer and guitarist Erja Lyytinen, following on from 2014's 'The Sky Is Crying'. The new album was recorded in Helsinki, with the vocals being laid down at State Of The Ark studios in London, and produced and mixed by Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones, Bad Company and INXS to name a few).
The album contains eleven finely crafted tracks that take influences stretching from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, but ultimately the Bluesy nature of the songs comes through the strongest. There is a lot of finely detailed guitar work going on in the songs, and there are some great moments when the guitar playing takes centre stage and the listener is treated to some really strong soloing with feeling and emotion.
The album opener 'Stolen Hearts' sort of reminded me of Alannah Myles, with its slower verses relying mostly on voice with drum and minimal guitar, before building to the choruses, which are bridged by some fine guitar work. There is a professionally shot video for this song also available on YouTube which is well worth checking out. This is followed by 'Rocking Chair', which has more than a nod to LZ in the main riff and in its style. Each song has its own particular influences, yet also manages to add its own identity. My particular album highlights are the seven minute long 'Black Ocean', with its wonderfully simple and heavy riff, and the hauntingly beautiful 'City Of Angels'.
This is not an album that will necessarily appeal to out-and-out Rockers, but if you appreciate Blues-based music with Jazz overtones and some very intelligent guitar playing in the vein of Joanne Shaw Taylor, Orianthi or Bonnie Rait, then this is one to check out.
Chris Mee
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