By Eric Campfens – www.barnowlblues.punt.nl
(translation by Eric Campfens)

Mariëlla Tirotto & The Blues Federation – Dare To Stand Out

After the first excellent CD, “Somewhere Down The Road” from 2008, and the exciting shows here and abroad, the expectations for the second CD were great. And not in the last part this was caused by Mariëlla herself, who regularly gave us account of the progression. Well, regarding pr Mariëlla is the best.
To remember ourselves, the band is built aroung Mariëlla Tirotto, who takes up the vocals, and het hasbund Heins Greten, playing bass and piano. Further guitarist Harald Koll, harmonicaman Michel de Kok, drummer John Kakiay and percussionist Onny Tuhumena are part of the Federation.
Before me lies their second CD “Dare To Stand Out”. Of the twelve songs eleven were written by Mariëlla, Harald and Heins, either alone or in various combinations. To my personal liking the textx of the selfwritten songs are taken up in the booklet. And, just as with the first CD, they sing about subject close to their heart. These songs are even more personal than those on the first one..

Guitarlicks, that make your toes curl and the bluesharp start off the CD. What an intro, it makes you sit up straight.   “Drifting” is a  rocking blues, in where Harald lets himself go on the guitar during the first solo and Michel takes care of the second one. Mariëlla's dark brown voice slides along the tight rhythmsection and thus creates a nice tension. A fine start. “Marked For Life” is just as rocking as the first one, but has darker lyrics. During the solo, but especially during the serene middle piece the harmonica with its wailing tones adds an extra dimension to the song. The pace drastically slows down in “Lover's Dance”, but that does not mean it is less exciting. Because of this almost spherical song your reviewer was forced to take a cold shower and a lie down. That's all I want to ay about it. Agile rocking the album proceeds with the titlesong; a recommendation to follow your dreams and speak up for yourself. And all this enlichtened with crackling guitar and driving harmonica.
“Night Owl” is a nimbly rocking song with just as nimble solos by Michel and Harald. The next song, “Black Coffee” is the only cover of the album. It is the Burke/Webster traditional, which was already sung by Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, to name only a few. It has turned to be a relaxed song with the jazzy pianio of Heins, who believes in the 'less is more'-principle and creates the right atmosphere by delivering space. Michel, playing just as calmly, gives it the right final touch. The swinging “You Don't Call The Shots” is controled by the driving bass and the surprising tempo changes. Haralds guitar gives it the impression of Steely Dan's jazzy rock. Until Mariëlla starts begins to rap at the endn. Surprising, but no less fun. After ou short trip to the jazz we return to rock with “Why Are You Running From Yourself”. An almost menacing song that discharges in a percussion/drumsolo, followed by an edgy and agile guitarsolo.
The most personal song, as Mariëlla told me, is “Lover”. This wrote this especially for Heins. A beautiful ballad with wonderful and ersonal lyrics. “Didn't Your Mama Tell You” is a nice rocking song containing a warning in the text. The CD is closed two instrumentals written by Harald: “Embrace I” and “Embrace II”. Because of the latin rhythm the first one reminds of Santana in his heyday and in the second song the tempo goes up lead by the drum / percussion duel. This is framed by the harp and swinging piano. For me personally a strange ending of a CD by a band that carries the 'blues' in its name. I was expecting a banging bluessong, but having listened to the album a couple of times I turned around and find it a fitting closing.

Mariëlla Tirotto & The Blues Federation has met with the great expectations and have released another great album. I have played it a couple of times now and it still grows on me. Congratulations on this effort. Absolutely recommended!