HENRIK FREISCHLADER
German multi-instrumentalist Henrik Freischlader has been exercising his talents within the blues genre for a few years now and, while a widely known name in his home country, is still gradually rising to prominence elsewhere. New album 'Still Frame Replay', originally released last year, is set to augment both his reputation and popularity as a prominent blues musician as it's a classy and masterful musical outing that showcases the man's songwritng prowess and technical abilities. Performing guitar, bass, drums and singing on most tracks (with additional personnel recruited mainly to embellish his tunes with Hammond organ, piano and extra percussion), Freischlader is undoubtedly a multi-talented guy, excelling through each of the instruments he performs. However, as one would expect from the cover photo and a blues-based album, it's guitar that takes centre stage as between-lyric licks and solos fill a lot of the playing time with expressive blues idioms, each fretboard widdle oozing emotion to reflect lyrical content. Songs alternate between mid to up-tempo blues with an uplifting vibe (which is most prominent in 'Come On My Love') and down-tempo, pentatonic-fuelled melancholia (the latter at its most emphatic in the pathos infused melodies in 'The Memory of Our Love') and Freischlader's playing, both subtle and overt, glows with sonic affection throughout. Likewise, he utilises his voice to effectively meander through the album's changing moods and, more importantly, uses both voice and guitar to create said moods. It's no wonder he has the backing of contemporary blues hegemonist Joe Bonamassa (who contributes lead guitar to the album's title track) although, based on what we have here, Freischlader himself shows enough talent and promise to rise to greater heights within the blues scene.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Cable Car Records
Album
STILL FRAME REPLAY
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
53:20
RELEASE DATE:
18th June 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Still Frame Replay
2) Longer Days
3) Come On My Love
4) What's My Name
5) The Memory of Our Love
6) Gentlemen!
7) If I Could Only Be Myself
8) I've Got It Good
9) Growing Old
10) Do Did Done
11) Look at the Fool
2) Longer Days
3) Come On My Love
4) What's My Name
5) The Memory of Our Love
6) Gentlemen!
7) If I Could Only Be Myself
8) I've Got It Good
9) Growing Old
10) Do Did Done
11) Look at the Fool
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Germany
"...a classy and masterful musical outing that showcases the man's songwritng prowess and technical abilities."
