KA & the Blue Devils – Anywhere
Self-Release – 2023
11 tracks; 52 minutes
Based in the South of France, this is the second album released by KA & the Blue Devils, a band axed round the writing and singing of Carole Grimi (KA) and her husband Jean-François Rebsamen (Jeff) who plays guitar and co-wrote eight of the eleven songs. Joining the couple are Romain Petite on keys and harmonica, Christophe Barreau on bass and Thierry Le Gail on drums; Virginie Behem adds backing vocals. KA writes and sings in both French and English with four songs here in French and seven in English. She has a strong voice and carries off the songs well, albeit with a definite accent when she sings in English. The material includes some blues, as well as rock, soul and funk elements.
A funky rhythm underpins opener “A Piece Of My Heart”, the bass prominent in the mix, before KA delivers an emotive song about what really matters in life – family and friends. The central solo is Romain’s harmonica while Jeff concentrates on the wah-wah rhythm. The title cut is also in English, opening with acoustic guitar before building in intensity as KA describes the anguish of a young girl who feels trapped and wants to be “Anywhere”, Jeff playing some dramatic guitar to match KA’s intense vocals on the outro. Switching to French KA sings a rolling ballad entitled “A La Lumière De Del” (By The Light Of Del) and “Halley Blues”, a fast-paced shuffle with fine piano and guitar that fairly rockets along. Back to English for big ballad “A World Of Colors”, lots of swirling keys and backing vocals and Jeff matching the drama of KA’s vocals in his guitar work.
The next two are more in a rock style: “Le Pacte” (The Pact) is again in French, an attractive rocker in which KA states that “I nearly lost my mind” and “signed the pact”; “It’s All Over” has a catchy core riff over which KA delivers an ultimatum to her guy, Jeff pulling out another impressive solo. “Love Is Stronger Than Anything” is a slow blues and the longest track, its six minutes allowing Jeff to take his time, playing well in a reserved style. The band sets a rocking pace on “Queen Of Rock N’Roll”, led by Romain’s terrific piano which makes it impossible to sit still while listening to this one. “La Nuit” (The Night) opens with a male spoken vocal before KA enters with a dramatic vocal, the harmonica adding a sense of loneliness to a song about how insignificant humans are: “we are all made from the dust of stars”. The album closes on a soulful note with “I Fly Ahead Above My Soul”.
There is plenty of attractive music here, mainly in rock mode but with a few dashes of blues.
