You may have an idea of what blues sounds like. That idea is probably based on those early southern players, the later electrified Chicago scene that urbanised it, or the British Invasion-inspired revival, but that would be to assume that blues isn’t a still-evolving sound. It may be the oldest genre still widely embraced by a broad, modern audience, but that is only because it, like all genres, moves with the times. For every artist or fan looking to the past, there are even more moving it into a bright new future. Terry Blade is one of those people.
“Tell ‘Em” walks a sure-footed line between established traditions and future potential, between familiarity and freshness, and between comfort zones and adventure.
Sure, it runs on spacious and soulful licks, and Blade’s vocals hauntingly echo with the sound of past masters, only more poised and polished perhaps, but there is also something modern and forward-moving about the song – like bumping into someone you know well and not recognising them at first because of a neat makeover and a natty set of new clothes. This is the same sonic sartorial cool in action – something that you already fully understand, moving with the times and adding unexpected tone and texture, grace and groove.
Revolution might turn heads and kick down the barriers – such as with rock and roll and punk and hip-hop – but such incendiary moves only last a short time in the grand scheme of things. Evolution always wins out in the end, and “Tell ‘Em” is the sound of the blues machine evolving slowly and confidently.
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