Reviews
Blues Against Youth Album: Gianni Tbay's Blues Against Youth
Label: Escape From Today
Tracks: 11
Website: https://thebluesagainstyouth.bandcamp.com/
In a time where The Blues may be more of an influence or a flavour, there are a small number of musicians who are connecting with the energy and vitality of both Delta and Chicago Blues. Following on from 2022's excellent AS THE TIDE GETS HIGH AND LOW, 2025 sees Italian Gianni Tbay return with his seventh album since 2009, a superb set that both expands and cements his sound.
"Lost And Sound" has the stomping beat of early John Lee Hooker, Gianni Tbay's distorted vocal as much sound as words adds to the uncovered early blues feel. "Discomfort Zone" adds Guglielmo Nodari's 60s garage electric organ and bass and Andre Rossi or Simone Pozzi's drums to the sound. Raw and punchy with a punk bite, imagine a bluesy Mark E Smith fronting Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd. "Learn This Right" is hot electric Blues with attitude, the vocals and guitar just cook. Again it crackles with swagger and attitude. The guitar lick that opens "What A Find", echoed by the twang of a jaw harp is a complete classic. Tbay roars the vocal delivering a second stand out funky track. As the album progresses the tracks get a little longer allowing the growling music to build an atmosphere and get into. A definite groove. With atmospherics and space around the wonderful slide guitar, "Goin' To California" has a more pastoral vibe but wrestling the title back from Tolkien's hobbits, it still cooks. A rail riding train song, Gianni nods to Jimmie Rodgers with some plantive atmospheric yodels between some fine slide work. "Low Swingin' Bad News", powered by Davide Richichi's harmonica like trumpet and some muscular drums allows Tbay to deliver a huge blues vocal on another groove song. "I'll Try Not To" and "That Devilish Melody In You" are tight, and classic 7" single short, growling and raw with the uncompromising immediacy of Jack White. "How Can You Do It" powered by a snaking electric guitar and a huge percussive foot beat is a John Lee Hooker bitter betrayal blues song. "Snake Away" is a still funky guitar instrumental with a great descending bass line like a gear change. Solo it allows Tbay to deconstruct his playing at the end. Reminding us what a powerful player he is that solo percussive guitar opens "Emissions" with the band building around him as they deliver a final swaggering blast.
That guitar and voice are central to the sound, but there is more bottom, more thump, more groove going on. Blues is driven by protest and pushing against adversity, but this is definitely The Blues Against Dull Music, rather than Youth as Gianni Tbay delivers yet another slice of vital and always interesting music.
Marc Higgins
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