Woke up this morning and…found myself listening to a blues album. Many might regard that as an occupational hazard but, in truth, a new blues album isn’t a regular occurrence so “IV” by the Patrik Jansson Band made for a different way to start the day.
So, what’s the story on this album? Let’s answer that with a question. Is there such a thing as smooth blues? You know, like there is a smooth jazz genre. These ears, and perhaps your ears too, might think so after a listen to “IV” as you would have to be on a quest powered by religious fervour to find a rough edge anywhere in these nine songs. That’s not to say that the feel that is real has been entirely lost as both “Love Will Find a Way” and “She Said What?” provide more than adequate proof that there is still a heart beating twelve to bar underneath that precisely polished exterior.
That makes “IV” another album that will find friends amongst fans of the blues of today and, indeed, it bodes well for the continuing career of Patrik Jansson.
The album is also available from Bandcamp.