Reviews - Pre War Blues

 

Jefferson,Nr 108 - 1995 (Scandinavian blues magazine)

"How was I to approach this review? Matti Norlin, the delta blues playing "Ångermanlander" from Hoting. Perhaps I could use a light approach and pretend "Hooting" was located in Mississippi? When I opened the CD I noticed Matti had already used that tactic. Then I listened and realized he didn´t need any introduction - he managed well without an introduction of any kind. I´ve seldom heard anyone interpret Robert Johnson or Blind Boy Fuller in a "blacker" way than Matti does. There are as many ways to play the blues as there are ways to eat crayfish. Several talented white guys have through companies like Blue Goose, Rounder and Flying Fish aspired to recreate 1920´s and 30´s blues, but I never heard anyone suck claws and chew shells to create that spoon, that spoonful of blues like Matti does. His inspiring and emotional voice, and his powerful and competent guitarplaying makes this record unique. If these songs had been Yazoo labeled with the buzz of the old records they would have been celebrated documents of one of the finest blues eras. Perhaps blues fanatics of today will hesitate, but Matti´s CD is definitely worth buying, both for the personal and traditional way in which he interprets a past era, as well as the imaginative and skillful way in which he does it.."
- Max W. Sievert


Backstage magazine, Pre-war blues review -95

"This was a big surprise. I'm really impressed by Mattis skillful and tasteful guitarplaying. Slide, chickenpicking and traditional blues playing. Totally amazing! "


Bruce Iglauer, Alligator records, Chicago

"Mattis playing is tasteful and solid and has really good deep blues feeling."

Contact / Booking: mattinorlin@gmail.com