Triple Coil Music (label)
16 November 2016 (released)
16 November 2016
The brainchild of expert German guitar-slinger Marcus Deml, The Blue Poets slams out good old four-on-the-floor rock and roll.
Having lent his talents to a lengthy lineup of arena rock heroes, Deml has taken the helm on this record which he frames as “blues-soaked 70s rock, heavy with testosterone in the here and now”. His backing band is a tight group of studio pros headed by Australian vocalist, Gordon Grey. Proudly made the old fashioned way with blood, sweat and analog tape, The Blue Poets is as classic rock as they come.
Deml's Stratocaster opens with that pristine metallic chime that feels like a hammer hitting right on the bone. 'Goodbye' grooves on a punchy bass line and Lenny Kravitz-style swirling vocals. Deml's lead riff follows directly in the lineage of Jimi and Stevie Ray. His solo starts low like Superman crouching to the ground before blasting to the stars. By the end of the first track, there's no doubting Deml's domination of the instrument.
'Alien Angel' is a reminder of how great a classic bluesy ballad can be. In the tradition of great Clapton ballads like 'Old Love'. His guitar shimmers and shakes like the fluttering nerves of love in its early throws. The solo, however, has the deep familiarity of a long time companion. To further cement the comparisons to the guitar god, Deml next takes on the Cream classic, 'Sunshine of Your Love' giving it a tighter, subtle intro and verse to let the choruses really burst out. The extended bridge and outro is a nice touch. 'For a God' once again harnesses the power of subtlety with simple bass chords ringing out the verse and a descending guitar line driving the chorus of this darker blues number. Deml's solo is lilting and lyrical, erupting into lofty lead lines.
The Blue Poets may not exactly be anything new but it does show off Deml's ample chops. The band's live performance would probably blow the lid off a blues festival but the album doesn't stand out from others in the genre on its own. For the blues-rock nuts out there, The Blue Poets will not disappoint.
