Between Salah Khaïli and Eric D Larsen, the magic happens in blue, resulting in Out of The Blues. Review of a well-executed collaboration.
OUT OF THE BLUES – SALAH KHAÏLI & ERIC D LARSEN
Although Salah Khaïli’s instrument of choice is the drums, the composer has gifted his companions some beautiful pieces on this new album, Out of The Blues, starting with Eric D Larsen. Larsen lends his slightly gravelly, expressive voice with great precision, regardless of the tone or atmosphere of the track. For example, take the transitions between the radiant Dolly, the fiery Hey, and the romantic Speechless. The brilliant Emmanuel Sunee on bass and Christophe Tito Taddei on guitar join the duo. Their connection flows effortlessly and is immediately apparent. Together, they conjugate the blues in every tense. The journey may not be chronological, but it is passionate.
Beyond their passion for this specific genre, they clearly intend to infuse each track with something extra. You’ll find touches of psychedelia on Avalanche, more modern tones on Hey, a gentleness edging toward the epic on No Borders, and striking stoner-style riffs on Macadam and the intro of Hit The Sack. The latter is a notable exception, being a very short piece—just one minute—and entirely instrumental. A great way to admire the musicians’ technique, it serves as a pivotal moment in the album.
When the music picks back up with Happy Duck, it leans into something more classic. The blues runs deep but remains relatively bright. And what a contrast when Faster Than The Wind storms in. This track is my absolute favourite on the album. It’s modern without denying its roots, with a perfectly catchy chorus—it’s impossible to resist. It feels somewhat distinct from the rest, however, as classic blues makes an immediate return with the dark Where Are My Shoes?.
But that’s not the only surprise, as Salah Khaïli and Eric D Larsen close Out of The Blues with an acoustic version of Speechless. What might resemble a journey through time and the history of the blues is not quite that. It’s a love letter to the genre. Every track, every lyric, moves forward with respect. And it’s in the boldest sounds that one truly falls in love.
