I hardly ever experienced to be in luck in my life, up till now, for this week I was. I set eyes on the  CD of Mariëlla & The Blues Federation for the first time. I do know former work from her, together with Heins Greten, her partner, then the Nederblues.nl formation. A lot of numbers of Cuby and of Livin' Blues; on this album a completely different approach.
 
'Somewhere Down the Road' has become a CD with a treasure of tender lyrics, nearly all written by Tirotto herself. She wrote the music, together with Harald Koll and Heins Greten. This was the  set-up as stated in the opening words of the textbooklet: 'The songs are about pain, fear and danger'.
 
At their age the members of the band have a certain baggage, everyone has gone through experiences in life. As a musician you can talk openly about it and enfold your life story in all detail. Listeners may quickly understand your music, it is clear why you have got the blues. The band chose to express its feelings purely and solely in their music and texts. Some of their songs may be autobiographical, some not, but they are all about things deeply affecting Mariëlla. After all, she must sing the texts, but she does not think the listener should really know what she herself  experienced in life.
Music and emotion should be authentic. The CD was recorded in four days time in a relaxed way, all in one go as much as possible, so the emotion would stay pure. All the numbers were recorded in one session or two, only some guitar sections and the second and third voice in 'House on the Hill' were recorded separately.
 
The first song is about the hard business world in which money, status and power play god and people wriggle and sell their souls to the devil if necessary to maintain their positions in that little world. At the same time it means that it makes them feel very lonely and they lose touch with themselves and their feelings. They are caught in their 'race to the top' and lose themselves on the way.
After 'Playing the Game', an easy boogie, a bit like L.B. Boogie, a terrific brass section takes part in the jazz-related 'You don't Care'. A song about the refugees, the homeless, the beggars, the outcasts of this world ignored and left in the cold by many people because they feel ill at ease with the confrontation, for it could affect their comfortable little world in which they wallow and that should  definitely not be disturbed by the reality that there are others struggling in life. In plain terms, just as it actually is.
The third song 'Confused Woman's Blues'  is a track sung deeply from her soul. This means that the text was written for Mariëlla. You do not just make this up, there was a great poet at work here. All this framed by wonderful guitar play by Harald Koll and subdued blues harp by Michel de Kok.
The title song 'Somewhere down the Road' is a story about past youth which we all have experienced. Texts like: 'I wanna be soft and tender' and 'I'm scared to lose control' we all know, being senior youngsters.
'Wintertime Blues' is soaked in South-African ink and in you mind you can hear Carlos Santana coming by here and there. We all agree on the fact that wintertime is not the most cheerful time of year.
A cry for help for the cruelty to animals in 'Tourist Fun'. In this groovy song the band scrutinizes the animal abuse occurring in the world of tourist entertainment and the big money-making. Animal lover Mariëlla's voice nearly begs: “ It's up to us, do I make myself clear”.
Then there is the number 'Sometimes' again. Written by Harry Muskee and come out on the LP by the same name from C+B in the seventies. It is obvious that this is one of the band's favourite's. The former band of Tirotto and Greten, Nederblues.nl, had it in its repertoire as well. Rightly so, in my opinion, for this song may certainly come to the attention again. The fact that Mariëlla's voice is greatly suitable for the sensual blues and jazz is a personal preference , but it ís a fact; I would even go as far as to make a comparison with Diana Schuur and Peggy Lee.
'High Fever' – the never ending story of the misery that love between two people can cause, beautifully wrapped in a slow blues. 'Forget what we had and leave on the night train'.
'Come to me' – if everything is against you and you do not know which way to go anymore, 'Come to me'. Not a bad thought, especially in these dark days we could use a few comforting words.
'Window of my Eyes' – written by Harry Muskee as well, and also the best-known song of Cuby. Nowadays still performed by C+B at performances. Not many performers have got this song in their repertoires, reason being that it can only be sung with the blues in your head. If somebody sings it, it must be a way to express oneself, one cannot just sing it. It is like telling a story to someone who is hanging on your lips, but in this story one must be a real good storyteller, and Mariëlla Tirotto is just that.
'Bad Soul' – a rhythmical warning with a lot of percussion for the lady who is no good and who destroys us, men. The lady with 'Evil' as her second name.
'House on the Hill' – a technical up-tempo number with second and third voice, all three sung by Tirotto. This slightly loosens the song from the rest of the album but daring and convincing.
Summary
I myself am over the moon with this album and, to be honest, I am a bit surprised about the terrific texts. It is impossible to play this CD from beginning to end in one go and then put it away. You will have to pay real attention to each song if you want to be able to follow the direction of the set-up. No thrown-together blues, but a story of twelve chapters telling about people giving food to beggars, taking care of injured animals and having the ability to imagine other people's circumstances and pain. The music has framed this poetic stock of words with a variety of styles, but remains true to the main road of the blues.
The CD is in a cardboard box with a separate booklet in which you can read the magnificent texts while listening. Especially the latter is a must, I think.
The presentation will be in café Royal in Mill (the Netherlands) on 29^th November 2008.