Have you ever put the blues on the grill? With his latest album Roasted, US blues luminary Hughes Taylor does just that: one side dark roast for heavier blues rock, the other side light roast for vibrant energy. All clear so far?

Admittedly, anyone who comes into frequent contact with texts on art and music sometimes begins to celebrate the imagination of the writers or to doubt their way of perceiving things. Painters research content because the writer has not understood the meaning of the term “research”. Or musicians grill their music. Meal time.

So be it. In the end, something gets from the canvas into the eyes or from the loudspeakers into the ear, and there it triggers something. At best, something positive. Despite the droll and flowery description, this is also the case with Roasted.

Together with Ben Alford on bass, Nich Gannon on drums, Zach Wilson on keyboards for five of the eleven songs, and singers Emily Lynn and Evie Somogyi, guitarist and singer Taylor has put together a “colorful mix” album with a focus on broad acceptance.

Catchy melodies, solid basslines, familiar grooves and guitar riffs with familiar hooks give the impression of meeting a good old friend again. The quality of the acoustics is beyond question. A clearly structured stage, cleanly staggered musicians, background vocals from the second row, finely balanced frequencies and pressure where it is needed make the album a pleasure for the ear.

It's best to listen for yourself. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Hughes Taylor, guitar, vocals
Ben Alford, bass, backing vocals
Nich Gannon, drums
Zach Wilson, keyboards (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7)
Emily Lynn, vocals (track 4), backing vocals (tracks 1, 4, 6)
Evie Somogyi, backing vocals (tracks 3)