Fred Delforge, Friday September 16, 2011 (translated by Erwin Bosman)
Dare to stand out – Mariëlla Tirotto & The Blues Federation
(Self Release  – 2011) Time: 61’37 – 12 tracks
http://www.tirottoblues.eu
http://www.myspace.com/tirottoblueseu

Already with their first album in 2008 the group came in the spotlights and was favourably welcomed not only in the Dutch, but also in the Belgium, and in general, the European media.
Ever since that moment, Mariëlla Tirotto & The Blues Federation are an asset in the Dutch blues, and it is thus no coincidence to find them, after having seen them on the top of the bill at the National Blues Awards in 2010, amongst the candidates for the first Dutch Blues Challenge on the agenda in October this year.
They bring you their very own style that seeks at the same time inspiration in the roots of blues and finds an opening towards the contemporary blues. Mariëlla Tirotto, vocals, Harald Koll, guitar, Michel de Kok, harmonica, Heins Greten, bass and keyboard, John Kakiay, drums, en Onny Tuhumena, percussion, make use of their broad experience from sharing the stage with a.o. Gary Moore, Ana Popovic, Mick Taylor, Joe Bonamassa and Ten Years After. This experience is clearly shining through in this second studio album that, at the least, can be called seductive.
The band links their own genius rock interpretation to an impressively talented translation of original blues and, yes even jazz. The seductive riffs that share the stage with smashing solos, delicious slides and harmonica blues only bring the rich and convincing voice of this vocal artist with punch at even higher levels.
Own compositions containing a high level of realism as ‘Marked for Life’, Night Owl’, ‘Why are you running from yourself?’ or ‘Didn’t your Mama Tell You?’ stand next to a very personal interpretation of ‘Black Coffee’. In other songs there is a clear folk touch with intonations of soul and even with pure jazz elements, safeguarding all the time a very natural sonic image.
The richly ornamented sound, alternated with sometimes more sober fragments, and with songs that are on the edge of the impenetrable, goes hand in hand with a constant effort for variation. In this effort the musicians can rely upon an extremely rich personal experience. All this leads to a beautifully coherent album that flirts with perfection.
When you listen you can follow the beat with your feet, or you can close your eyes to dream away in a song. In either case, you will have a difficult time to detach yourself from this ‘Dare to Stand Out’ because the album is irresistible and will completely catch you, even if the artwork is perhaps only loosely related to the musical concept.