Play 90 second soundbite of 'Shake The Blues' @ 'CD quality'
Featuring four Mitrenko originals and seven, fairly varied, covers (some quite surprising), 'Comin' Thru' have pretty much got all bases covered. Certainly, this is an easy-to-take blues package; Mitrenko manages to keep his individual talents well proportioned and controlled. His solid and never over influential rhythm section of bassist Barry Newey and drummer Dave Tandy lay down the perfect, groove laden backdrop which Mitrenko uses as a springboard to bounce his instrumental and vocal outings off.
The album has a clean and precise feel to it; at times it's slickness almost gets in the way of the 'blue' ethos. But, on the whole, 'Comin' Thru' gets the job done effectively and efficiently. If I have just one criticism it would be that 'Comin' Thru' could do with a bit of 'dirty' stuff, some real lazy, gritty stuff, a touch of passionate aggression, just to break up the relatively laid back but highly polished material. As it is, it reminds me of some of the early British blues albums of the mid to late 60's in its delivery and resultant feel - maybe slightly undercooked and sitting on the lighter side of the blues rather than letting things rip and letting go.
Overall, 'Comin' Thru' from The Maz Mitrenko Band is a damn decent piece of work. What it might lack in aggression and real passion it makes up for in polished professionalism. With the blues scene once again picking up new devotees, The Maz Mitrenko Band are in it at the right time and 'Comin' Thru' will help get the Mitrenko message across and sets thing up nicely.
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