Routes to Roots

• Track Listing

For several years Kapa Montonen has played and composed many kinds of music but his roots still lay firmly with the blues. It is and has been his passion and a guideline for him as a guitar player. Finally with the right songs and some great fellow musicians it was time to fulfill his dream and make an album. This album is a versatile selection of his music; blues, rock and some melodic tracks spiced up with funk and soul. Kapa Montonen is a Finnish composer and guitar player. 'Routes to Roots' is his first blues rock album containing 12 great new songs. Besides being a talented composer Kapa Montonen is a dazzling guitar player who really makes the songs groove. His performance is really strong and together with the Bluesment Brothers provides an excellent music experience. REVIEWS Artist: Kapa Montonen and the Bluesment Brothers Single: Routes to Roots Review By: Dan MacIntosh It's always fascinating when musicians from other countries interpret American music and give it right back to them. That's exactly what happens with Kapa Montonen and the Bluesment Brothers, which is a fairly traditional sounding blues outfit from Finland of all places. When Montonen plays lead guitar, which he does extremely well throughout this twelve track album, he could be just about any North American blues guy - at least based upon how his ax work sounds. However, when he sings, his accent sometimes sneaks through. This is especially apparent during "Dark Medicine" where the word "medicine? becomes "medi-seen,? instead. Nevertheless, even with his sometimes strong accent, Montonen's voice sounds a lot like another famous blues guitarist/singer/songwriter, Eric Clapton. While these songs all sound straight out of the blues classic songbook, Montonen actually had a hand in writing every one of them. He had help on many, but his last name is listed on each credit. Many of these co-writers are also his fellow Bluesment Brothers, which include Jyrki Jay Tulppo, on bass and vocals, August M. Montonen at the drums and Ari Korpisalo on keyboards. This quartet is also augmented by horns in places, as well as Tiina Bolz and Katja Bengtsson on backing vocals. There is a relatively wide range of blues style represented on Routes to Roots. For instance, "Burning Eyes" borrows, but does not steal, from Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." "Trouble Hill Blues" is slow blues, whereas "My Sun and My Moon" leans closer to a blues-rocker. Montonen ramps up the horn section to 11 during "Soulmate," which comes off a little like Eric Clapton fronting Dire Straits. It features some really nice guitar and organ interplay, as well. This track also puts Tiina Bolz's and Katja Bengtsson's backing vocals to good use, so you might say it takes an "everything but the kitchen sink? instrumental approach. It's a little tough to accept Montonen as an evil dude during "Bad One," yet it's easy to get into the song's soulful groove. This track is one of the album's smoother inclusions. When Montonen sings about his "battle with the devil," he does so in a way that brings Robert Cray's ultra cool blues immediately to mind. Nowadays, all the kids are into The Black Keys, almost as though these young musicians invented the blues. The two guys in The Black Keys wouldn?t suggest such a silly thing. However, it's sad how little our present generation knows about blues music. If they?d listen to Kapa Montonen, however, they?d get themselves a proper education on some of the blues? history. Montonen may prefer the rollicking louder sounds of electrified blues, but he shows an equal aptitude with lighter varieties. "Give It a Try" is an excellent example of how to perform a more subtle form of the blues; one that swings rather than wails. The organ solo on it uses a lighter, jazzier feel as well. It's a nice little change of pace. The fact that musicians from Finland can play blues music so authentically is undeniable evidence that this great American musical style has touched such a huge swath of the planet. Some might wish that Montonen would get a voice teacher to help him sound more American. Yet somehow, that would take away much of the man's charm. Montonen has not taken the same route that, say, Muddy Waters traveled to get to music's essential roots, but he gets there successfully, nevertheless. Think of this as quality blues music, with a unique international twist. Review By Dan MacIntosh Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5) Artist: Kapa Montonen and the Bluesment Brothers Album: Routes to Roots Reviewed by: Mike DeGagne When one thinks of the Blues, places like Chicago, New York, New Orleans or Atlanta come to mind...but Finland? Yes, Finland! Kapa Montonen is a 53 year old blues guitarist originating from the land that's known for it's, cold months, and reindeer, but there's nothing "cold" about Montonen's blues playing. His music is smooth when it has to be, and electric, emotional, and captivating the rest of the time. His latest release, Routes to Roots with the Bluesment Brothers, is a solid twelve pack of blues/rock music, as Kapa Montonen sounds a bit like Peter Green (early Fleetwood Mac) and a lot like Eric Clapton. Kicking off with "Night Time Shuffler", Kapa Montonen gets right into letting his guitar loose. The song is a slick, greasy groover with a slight bit of color in the background a la the percussion and horn work. Think Climax Blues Band or The Blues Brothers, especially via the smooth keyboard lining. The next track, "You Are The Proof", is Clapton all the way, from the vocals to the rhythm to the song styling. A decent little radio-friendly track, this one is a nice little laid back number that proves Kapa Montonen's talents as a guitarist, and bass player Jyrki Jay Tulppo as a singer. "Burning Eyes" is a typical blues number with more homage to 1980s/1990s Clapton. Much like "You Are The Proof", this tune can be compared to Clapton's "I Can't Stand It" or "Forever Man" in it's rock/blues hybrid sound and feel. "Trouble Hill Blues" has more of a standard blues swagger to it's movement and lackadaisical feel, and it also has some truly stellar guitar playing strewn throughout it's pulse. Following this track is Santana-ish "My Sun And My Moon"...and yes, the Eric Clapton element comes on strong here too. Still, even with the evident comparisons, this is a beautiful song with great atmosphere, glossy rhythm, and a gorgeous bluesy sheen that glows from the opening chord to the final note; easily the album's best cut. Dark Medicine" opens with excellent, free-flowing guitar work, and then slowly morphs into a tight little blues tune that moves along at the perfect pace, while "Soulmate" has a little more grit, thanks to the chugging yet controlled guitar rhythm. "Bad One" creeps in like early Cream or Robert Cray, a down and dirty piece that prowls and slithers on one layer, but is given just enough life via Montonen's singing to give it added dimension. "Let's Give It A Try" is a jaunty number, but in a bluesy way, sprinkled appropriately with keyboards and string-curling all the way through. "You Could Change The Way" is another example of Montonen's expertise. Bluesy in nature but highlighted by it's wrinkle-free follow-through and forward pace, the guitar work is once again the jewel in the crown on this cut, as is the seamless integration of the other instruments alongside Montonen's playing. "Stargazer" has a wholesome Dire Straits feel in it's movement and carry through, while the final track on the album, "In My Sweet Dreams", closes things with a slow, instrumental send-off. Incorporating nearly every element and rhythmic approach to the blues, Kapa Montonen's Routes to Roots offers loads of satisfaction in it's familiarity and text book approach to playing the blues rather than a "surprise" element. The songs are well done, tasteful, and professional. There's no wild guitar gymnastics or shock value antics...just some great, wholesome guitar playing that makes for a great set of blues styled rock. Review by Mike DeGagne Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)