Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado - House Of Sticks

Swampy blues 'n' rootsy rollers Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are, in musicianship and songcraft, as engaging and appealing as their vocally resonating, deep voiced frontman.
Indeed, there are very few, if any, other acts in the roots and blues world who sound like the accomplished Danish octet (including a trio of horn players); this is a band who are as much about the swagger, rhythm and groove as they are the roots, blues and soul (and a little funk).
All the above are present and correct on ninth studio album House of Sticks.
Produced by Thorbjørn Risager and bass player Søren Bøjgaard, with additional production by guitarist Joachim Svensmark, House Of Sticks also has the sound to go with its swagger, songcraft and rootsy substance.
The title track, which opens the album, is a swampy, percussive and moody number that benefits from the use of foreboding horns and splashes of jazz noir piano from keys player Emil Balsgaard.
'Already Gone,' which follows, is an up-tempo groove-blues that shuffles atop a strong, rhythmic core.
As such it stands strong as a definitive Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado moment, something Risager himself has made mention of ("the most classic Black Tornado song on the album").
Nor does it hurt that it also sports a wicked little solo from Joachim Svensmark.
Further contrast comes by way of soulful ballad 'Light Of Your Love,' which wins out through a simple arrangement, subtle support from the horns, a heartfelt but never overplayed vocal from Thorbjørn Risager and a pulsating drum pattern that acts as the heartbeat of the song. A lovely, bluesy solo from Joachim Svensmark closes out the number. A surprising but welcome, downtempo highlight.
A pulsating groove-rhythm with percussive accents drives the wholly contemporary roots-blues-pop of 'Long Time Ago,' a number that's crying out for mainstream radio airplay.
'Said I Was Hurt,' with its echoing percussive strikes and sparse arrangement, is another downtempo highlight; special mention here to Thorbjørn Risager’s forlorn and perfectly pitched (in both senses) vocal, which further enhances the song’s atmosphere.
The smoothly grooved and funky swagger of 'Inner Light,' a song about growing older and reflecting on life, and losses, along the way, is another winner, one that channels classic soul-funk blues to fine, brass backed effect.
The downtempo 'We’ll Get By,' where country-soul meets late night Nashville, is an intertwined acoustic-electric delight.
'Out Of The Rain,' built, like so many of the tracks, on a pulsating groove, is another atmospheric number that sports a couple of treated guitar riff change-ups before heading to a weightier, quick-stop finish.
Penultimate number 'Climbed a Mountain' is an infectious and contemporary sounding rhythm and light boogie blues that has bassist Søren Bøjgaard and drummer Martin Seidelin very much in the groove.
Final track 'Fine Summer Night,' much like 'We'll Get By,' sits in laid back, Nashville inspired territory.
With its glass in hand, life is good lyricism, it also makes for a lovely closing statement to what is one of Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado’s best, and all-encompassing, albums to date.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
House of Sticks will be released on 31st January via Provogue/ Mascot Label Group
Pre-order/ purchase: https://lnk.to/Risager
Indeed, there are very few, if any, other acts in the roots and blues world who sound like the accomplished Danish octet (including a trio of horn players); this is a band who are as much about the swagger, rhythm and groove as they are the roots, blues and soul (and a little funk).
All the above are present and correct on ninth studio album House of Sticks.
Produced by Thorbjørn Risager and bass player Søren Bøjgaard, with additional production by guitarist Joachim Svensmark, House Of Sticks also has the sound to go with its swagger, songcraft and rootsy substance.
The title track, which opens the album, is a swampy, percussive and moody number that benefits from the use of foreboding horns and splashes of jazz noir piano from keys player Emil Balsgaard.
'Already Gone,' which follows, is an up-tempo groove-blues that shuffles atop a strong, rhythmic core.
As such it stands strong as a definitive Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado moment, something Risager himself has made mention of ("the most classic Black Tornado song on the album").
Nor does it hurt that it also sports a wicked little solo from Joachim Svensmark.
Further contrast comes by way of soulful ballad 'Light Of Your Love,' which wins out through a simple arrangement, subtle support from the horns, a heartfelt but never overplayed vocal from Thorbjørn Risager and a pulsating drum pattern that acts as the heartbeat of the song. A lovely, bluesy solo from Joachim Svensmark closes out the number. A surprising but welcome, downtempo highlight.
A pulsating groove-rhythm with percussive accents drives the wholly contemporary roots-blues-pop of 'Long Time Ago,' a number that's crying out for mainstream radio airplay.
'Said I Was Hurt,' with its echoing percussive strikes and sparse arrangement, is another downtempo highlight; special mention here to Thorbjørn Risager’s forlorn and perfectly pitched (in both senses) vocal, which further enhances the song’s atmosphere.
The smoothly grooved and funky swagger of 'Inner Light,' a song about growing older and reflecting on life, and losses, along the way, is another winner, one that channels classic soul-funk blues to fine, brass backed effect.
The downtempo 'We’ll Get By,' where country-soul meets late night Nashville, is an intertwined acoustic-electric delight.
'Out Of The Rain,' built, like so many of the tracks, on a pulsating groove, is another atmospheric number that sports a couple of treated guitar riff change-ups before heading to a weightier, quick-stop finish.
Penultimate number 'Climbed a Mountain' is an infectious and contemporary sounding rhythm and light boogie blues that has bassist Søren Bøjgaard and drummer Martin Seidelin very much in the groove.
Final track 'Fine Summer Night,' much like 'We'll Get By,' sits in laid back, Nashville inspired territory.
With its glass in hand, life is good lyricism, it also makes for a lovely closing statement to what is one of Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado’s best, and all-encompassing, albums to date.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
House of Sticks will be released on 31st January via Provogue/ Mascot Label Group
Pre-order/ purchase: https://lnk.to/Risager