Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip - Outtakes (2025)

Micke Björklof & Blue Strip is a Finnish blues rock/roots band formed in 1991 by frontman Micke Björklof and bassist/songwriter Seppe Arrow River. In their early years, the band mainly played in blues and rock clubs in Finland. There were a few personnel changes during that period, but for the last fifteen years the band has consisted of vocalist/harmonica player Mick Björklof, guitarist Lefty Leppänen, drummer Teemu Vuorela, bassist Seppo Nuolikoski and percussionist Timo Roiko-Jokela. In Finland, this unique band has built up a fan base through their energetic performances and they are a fixture in the Finnish blues/rock/roots scene. The band has also toured in Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Hungary. The band's main songwriter is guitarist Lefty Leppäenen, who is considered one of the best slide guitarists in Europe. His soulful and creative playing has become one of Blue Strip’s trademarks. Drummer Teemu Vuorela and percussionist Timo Roiko-Jokela provide a creative dialogue and create a cool rhythm.

Their debut album ‘From Four Until Late’ was released in 1997. Their third album ‘Three Times Seven Is …’ from 2002 received a lot of national and international attention from the press and radio. ‘Ray Needs A Mojo Hand’, the single from that album, was chosen as best song of the year at the Expo 2002 Song Composition Competition in Amsterdam. In 2014, Micke Björklof & Blue Strip represented Finland at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. In honor of their twenty-five year live career, the band released their first live album in 2017 with ‘Twentyfive Live At Blues Baltica’. It is a double album that was recorded at the Blues Baltica Festival in Eutin, Germany on May 19, 2017. In October 2021, Ruf Records released ‘Whole ‘Nutha Thang’ and on June 16, 2023, Continentale Record Services released ‘Colors Of Jealousy’.

On the occasion of Micke’s sixtieth birthday, the album ‘Outtakes’ will be released on May 16, 2025, featuring nine previously unreleased songs by the band. The nine songs were recorded between 2000 and 2025, but for one reason or another, they were never included on an album.

On Vacation and Way To Go come from the ‘Ain’t Bad Session 2014′ and were recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, UK. The album opens with the catchy boogie rocker On Vacation. Drummer Teemu Vuorela and bassist Seppo Nuolikoski provide the delicious groove. Lefty Leppänen spices up On Vacation with a fast guitar solo. Towards the end we get a nice organ solo by Tim Lewis. The strong and very attractive chorus will have you singing along before you know it. In this chorus Micke is vocally supported by the excellent voices of Lena Lindroos and Veera Railio. It remains swinging in Way To Go. Guitarist Lefty Leppänen is excellent throughout the song and emphatically present on the resonator guitar. With a fine finger-fast solo Lefty puts his nice instrumental performance even more in the spotlight. Micke Bjorklof comes up with gritty harmonica work. In the chorus Lena and Veera lend their voices again to vocally support Micke.

Heal You and Dontcha Know come from the ‘After The Flood Session 2012’ and were recorded at the Piety Street Recording Studio in New Orleans, USA. In Heal You, Micke's class as a singer and harmonica player comes to the fore. In Heal You, Michaela Harrison and Alexis Marceaux provide the beautiful backing vocals. Brian Coogan is the man behind the Hammond organ. The scorching boogie rocker Dontcha Know is the highlight of the album for me. After a quiet start, Dontcha Know breaks open completely. A magnificent Lefty Leppänen lets the bottleneck slide over the neck of his resonator guitar with great class. In the instrumental section, Micke Bjorklof also adds some rousing and gritty harmonica.

Running Shoes comes from the 'Colors Of Jealousy Session 2022', which were recorded in the Hokahey Boom Boom studio in Kauhava, Finland. There is something menacing in the sound of Running Shoes. With Lefty Leppänen and Micke Bjorklof, we hear two guitarists at work here. Bassist Seppo Nuolikosk and drummer Teemu Vuorela provide the delicious groove and singers Lena and Veera provide the sultry backing vocals. Bedtime Bomber comes from the ‘Whole Nuyha’ Thang Session 2006’, which was recorded at Goldtop Studio in London, UK. In the funky Bedtime Bumber there is also room for a horn section. With trumpeter Matt Holland and saxophonist Mart Winning we get two very good and renowned musicians. They previously played on records by Nick Lowe and Van Morrison. Lefty Leppänen colours Bedtime Bumber with distorted guitar work.

Running Shoes komt uit de ‘Colors Of Jealousy Session 2022’, die werden opgenomen in de Hokahey Boom Boom studio in Kauhava, Finland. Er hangt iets dreigends in de sound van Running Shoes. Met Lefty Leppänen en Micke Bjorklof horen we hier twee gitaristen aan het werk. Bassist Seppo Nuolikosk en drummer Teemu Vuorela zorgen voor de heerlijke groove ende zangeressen Lena en Veera zorgen voor de zwoele backing vocals. Bedtime Bomber komt dan weer uit de ‘Whole Nuyha’ Thang Session 2006′, die werd opgenomen in de Goldtop Studio in London, UK. In het funky Bedtime Bumber is er ook plaats voor een blazerssectie. Met trompettist Matt Holland en saxofonist Mart Winning krijgen we twee erg goede en gerenommeerde muzikanten. Ze speelden eerder al mee op platen van Nick Lowe en Van Morrison. Lefty Leppänen kleurt Bedtime Bumber met overstuurd gitaarwerk.

De laatste drie tracks komen uit de ‘Three Times Seven Is … Session 2002’ en werden opgenomen in Seawolf Studios in Helsinki, Finland. In Silver Moon schittert Lefty andermaal met prachtig en gevarieerd gitaarwerk. Drummer Teema Vuorela en percussionist Timo Reiko-Jokela zijn beiden heel bepalend voor de sound van Silver Moon. Daarna worden alle registers open getrokken voor de aanstekelige rocker Keep In Mind, met opwindend mondharmonicawerk van Micke Bjorklof. Het vijftal blijft het tempo aanhouden tijdens de instrumentale afsluiter Spooky Ride, waarin de vijf muzikanten al hun klasse kunnen en mogen etaleren.

Micke Björklöf & Blue Strip staan al decennia bekend als een van de meest gerespecteerde bluesbands uit Noord-Europa. Hun mix van rauwe blues, funk-georiënteerde ritmes en roots-rock is uitgegroeid tot een herkenbare stijl met internationale allure. ‘Outtakes’ is een verzameling tracks die oorspronkelijk niet op vorige albums verschenen, maar nu alsnog zijn opgepoetst en uitgebracht. Wat meteen opvalt is de kwaliteit van dit “restmateriaal”-songs, ze zijn allesbehalve tweede keus. De productie is helder en warm, en de muzikale prestaties zijn consistent sterk. Voor een album dat bestaat uit overgebleven studiomateriaal, is de productie indrukwekkend strak. Er is duidelijk aandacht besteed aan mix en mastering. De band heeft ervoor gezorgd dat ‘Outtakes’ niet klinkt als een grabbelton, maar als een zorgvuldig gecureerde release. ‘Outtakes’is een volwassen en gevarieerd bluesalbum dat laat zien dat zelfs de onbedoelde opnames van Micke Björklöf & Blue Strip van uitzonderlijk hoog niveau zijn. Het bewijst de kracht van een band die al jaren trouw blijft aan zijn stijl, maar tegelijkertijd blijft evolueren.