Small Blues Trap - "Red Snakes & Cave Bats"

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Comment by Small Blues Trap on November 6, 2011 at 6:33pm

 

Comment by Small Blues Trap on November 6, 2011 at 6:30pm

In these uncertain times, listeners and musicians all over the world are reminded almost daily what it means to have the blues. Memphis, Chicago and New Orleans all lay claim to being the home of the blues but the music has spread throughout the world, far beyond the Mississippi Delta area that nurtured the origins of the genre.

Small Blues Trap is a quartet based out of several villages in the central Greece countryside. The band was formed in 2004 and consists Paul Karapiperis on lead vocals, harmonica, slide steel guitar and keyboards, Panagiotis Daras on lead and rhythm guitar. Lefteris Besios on bass and Stathis Evageliou on drums. Their lengthy list of influences is a “who’s who” of important blues innovators. The list also includes Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart, which isn’t surprising once you hear Karapiperis sing. His deep, thick, raspy voice certainly brings to mind both of these better-known singers.

Musically, Small Blues Trap uses blues as a foundation on this all-original set list, mixing in some rock and a few jazz influences to create a unique approach that avoids the pitfall of trying to sound like a traditional blues band. They may use a standard boogie guitar riff on “It Took Me a Long Time” but the cut gets a boost from Karapiperis, who whips off a lightning-quick harp solo before Daras lays down a equally fine guitar solo. “It’s True” uses a shuffle beat as the band describes their love for blues music despite being so far from the land where it started. Daras shines on lead guitar on “The World is Painted Blue Again”, his clean tone dominating the proceedings. The title track is a darker track with an arrangement that emphasizes Daras on acoustic guitar. Musically interesting, the cut loses impact due to an obtuse lyrical narrative.

On “Seven plus…”, the group sounds uncannily like Dire Straits, with Daras recreating Mark Knopfler’s guitar sound to perfection while Karapiperis uses his harp to add variety to the track. They deliver another tribute on “Roy B.”, dedicated to the late Roy Buchanan. This moody song stops short of maudlin sentiments but misses capturing the essence of Buchanan’s legacy. “Strange Melody” has a slow, languid pace heated up by more fine guitar work from Daras. The band switches to an acoustic approach on “Surely My Body Gets the Message” and makes it clear that they understand the roots of the music. After a lengthy intro, “Buy a Dog” gets a strong beat Evageliou on a tale of warning for a cheating woman.

Small Blues Trap favors moderate to slow tempos, so there aren’t a lot of fireworks on this recording. And the tonal quality of Karapiperis’ vocals may not be to everyone’s liking. On the positive side, the band has established a hybrid sound that gains traction with repeated listens. Daras stands out on numerous tracks for his guitar work but all the members make solid musical contributions. Check them out on their website or at cdbaby.com. You might find yourself liking the way these Greeks interpret the blues.

 

Comment by Small Blues Trap on October 12, 2010 at 2:55pm

ROCK 'N' REEL

Comment by Small Blues Trap on August 29, 2010 at 11:46am

BARIKADA
Another important blues act from Greece, excluding a legendary group Blues Wire, is Small Blues Trap. They works as a quartet, fronted by key person, singer/harmonica player Paul Karapiperis. They was founded back in 2004 year, and first discographical step was " Crossroad Ritual" album from 2006 year.

''Red Snakes & Cave Bats" is actuelle one from this 2010 year, and band has released a CD as a self-produced issue. Also is important to say, that on song " Buy A Dog ", a group include as a singer, writer and guest star performer Elias Zaikos from mentioned famous and established Blues Wire band. A 13 mainly convinceble and equalizing tracks are present on "Red Snakes And Cave Bats" album.

A band has showed possibilities to explore blues as a genre in many aspects, so we can find here and there roots traces, 70's rhythm and blues variations, southern blues emotionals, acoustically driven tunes and many things in-between. A fantastic voice of Paul Karapiperis dominates through songs atmospheres, but it's also clear that complete line-up performs in best possible manner. "Red Snakes & Cave Bats" deliver an enjouable atmosphere, excelent band playings and modern authors views. "Red Snakes & Cave Bats" is recomandable product for older and newer blues followers, worth listeners attention.

Branimir Lokner

http://www.barikada.com/bb_lokner/ostala_scena10/2010-08-28_small_b...

Comment by Small Blues Trap on August 27, 2010 at 2:39am

BLUES ART STUDIO

This Greek four-piece is inspired by the sounds of the Chicago blues and the later blues booms in Britain, but has added some individual flavours that make them unique.

The boogying 'Mr. Jack' makes a fine opener, and is followed by a southern rock inflected 'The Sky Will Always Be Blue - heavy guitar and wailing harp, with intimate vocals , but overall, Small Blues Trap really do not sound like anyone else around, whilst remaining recognisably a Blues band, with an approach best described as "brooding".

If you are looking for influences, try 'Roy B.', an excellent homage to the late Roy Buchanan's style, Mind you, 'Seven Plus' sounds very much like early Dire Straits!

Singer Paul Karapiperis has an intimate-sounding voice and a wailing harmonica style, which again is slightly different from the norm.

Europe is producing many acts who are doing something new and exciting with the blues, and Small Blues Trap certainly fits that description.

Norman Darwen

Comment by Small Blues Trap on August 18, 2010 at 3:17am

BLUES BYTES

This band never cease to amaze me with their feel for the blues – they might be from Greece, rather than Mississippi, but they know what the blues is all about – they play it and they write it.

The band was formed in 2004, led by guitarist/vocalist Paul Karapiperis and on this, their fifth CD by my count, they show that they are continuing to progress in the blues. The thirteen original tracks on this album go to prove that point.

The CD opens with “Mr.Jack”, a medium tempo driving blues with Paul Karapiperis playing some inspired harmonica along with the vocals on the track that he wrote in conjunction with bass player Lefteris Besios. “The Sky Will Always Be Blue” follows, with a very subtle hint of backing riff on “Don’t Fear The Reaper”, this one written by Karapiperis with talented guitarist Panagiotis Daras. Karapiperis again picks up his harmonica to add some depth to the track.

All of Small Blues Trap’s CDs contain an odd track, sometimes strange sound effects, sometimes strange vocals, and track 3 “This Train Is Full Of Madness” fulfils this task on Red Snakes & Cave Bats. It’s a track with some very accomplished guitar work by Panagiotis Daras, and some strange lyrics about people going out of their minds on a train – weird, but it works!

“Strange Melody” is a slow ballad with Karapiperis playing keyboards and drummer Stathis Evageliou laying down a nice relaxed backing behind the bass of Besios and guitar of Daras. The tempo then picks up a bit with Karapiperis on harmonica again on “It’s True”.

The CD moves through different tempos and styles from there on, a great mix of blues from the boogie beat of “It Took Me A Long Time”, through the slow and moody “Roy B”, to the acoustic “Surely My Body Gets The Message” and the slide guitar led “Buy A Dog”, which closes the album.

If you want to listen to some different blues, or some proof that the blues is alive in Europe, then have a listen to this cd.

Terry Clear

Comment by Small Blues Trap on August 7, 2010 at 7:08am

Comment by Small Blues Trap on June 29, 2010 at 3:08am

ROOTSTIME
Things may not work with the Greek monetary situation and this perhaps, is a good reason for the people to get the blues. Witness the new album from Small Blues Trap, a band that caught our attention a few years back and since then we tend to follow. They knew immediately charmed us when their 2008 "Crossroad Ritual" album was released and sent to us for review. This was mainly due to the distinctive voice of Paul Karapiperis, which sounds like Waits at his most bluesy songs.
Sometime later, the solo album of Paul was released titled: "Fifteen Rain Drops In An Ocean Of Blues". The album has a soundtrack character and features without losing its blues influences. Greeks are not new to the emotions that the blues music triggers. Like the Portuguese who have their own version of the blues called “fado”, the Greeks have their Rembetica" which is the pure Greek version of the blues. We must also remember that some great blues artists were of Greek descent like Nick Gravenites, the less known Alexis Korner and even Johnny Otis. So the foundation is there. However, these guys managed to make a purer blues album based more on the American roots.
If we compare the three releases of the band so far, this is definitely the best, because first and foremost it is more based on pure blues music which was missing from their previous work as we have mentioned before. The previous CD was more experimental but the new one is more bluesy and well played. The voice and the excellent harmonica of Paul Karapiperis constitute the driving force of the music the band plays. However, in this particular album, the guitarist Panagiotis Daras seems to employ the guitar riffs and solos of another great guitarist he rather seems to admire, Mark Knopfler. Listen to the track «Seven Plus" and you know what I mean. The rhythm section of Besios Lefteris (bass) and Stathis Evageliou (drums) provide an ideal base from which Paul and Panagiotis can unfold and exhibit their great composing abilities.
The Small Blues Trap Above are able to create a beautiful atmosphere with their songs, and with this new CD, they prove that can play and work on projects without the need of gimmicks and sound effects. Therefore, we can only note that this "Red Snakes & Bats Cave" is a wonderful, atmospheric blues album. Besides, Rembetica, Greece has the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of Delta and Chicago Blues by a native band that can make everyone there be very proud of. The Small Blues Trap.
Ronny Bervoets
http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2010/JUNI1/CD40.htm

Comment by Small Blues Trap on June 29, 2010 at 3:05am

SOUNDGUARDIAN(THE BLUES CORNER)
The Blues Corner last year introduced for the first time the singer and harpist Paul Karapiperis after the release of his personal album “Fifteen Raindrops In An Ocean Of Blues Tales”. It was then that I mentioned for the first time the name of the band “Small Blues Trap”. Today is the 12th June 2010 and now for the first time I am presenting the new album “Red Snakes & Cave Bats” of that blues band who comes from Greece and records at the Shelter Home Studio.
Small Blues Trap was founded in 2004 and quickly gained popularity as a prominent blues band in Greece. At the end of 2004 they released their first album that included 12 songs and was titled “Our Trap.” In 2006, they recorded the “Crossroad Ritual” which was released and distributed by Anazitisi Records. In May 2007, the band participated with two tracks in an album released by “Diapason” magazine.
In September 2008, the band participated with three songs in the Magic Bus Sessions, a compilation of songs arranged and played by several Greek blues bands. In April 2010, the Small Blues Trap presented their new album titled “ Red Snakes & Cave Bats” that contained 12 brand new songs. This time, the band included the song “Buy a dog” that was first composed and played by Mr. Elias Zaikos, the front man of the most popular Greek band called the BLUES WIRE.
The new album is a really good one with a rich sound and arrangements drawing from the treasures of traditional blues that we all know.
Although thousands of miles away from the primordial roots of this distinctive musical style, the new CD of the Small Blues Trap, you will certainly be a pleasant surprise to anyone who wants to hear some blues expressively presented. Expressive, very sensitive and luxurious in terms of presentation, reveal form of presentation reveals their common determination to the traditional values of this otherwise very demanding blues direction.
Yes, I know many are just too inclined to listen to traditional blues, some like to say that it is important to stick to tradition without any variations. However, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for me. Indeed, I am personally very fond of this particular CD.
Although the album does contain traditional elements, one might hear sounds that remind him the good old Dire Straits, or perhaps Chris Rea and Joe Cocker as Paul's singing capabilities enable him to show such a resemblance.
The band Small Blues Trap play:
Paul Karapiperis-vocals, blues harp, guitar
Panagiotis Daras-guitar
Lefteris Besios-bas
Stathis Evageliou-drums
Undoubtedly, this very original presentation certainly stands out significantly from the average. Well, we have here with us in Croatia, a similar example, when the band goes beyond mediocrity, and goes beyond all limits as desired knocking on the door of international recognition. Surely, this may seem like an unattainable goal, but musicians should always strive towards a better, more significant and in any case feasible goal every time they attempt something new.
Each of the recorded songs on the album “Red Snakes & Cave Bats” Small Blues Trap is unique in terms of the special atmosphere it creates and sometimes it deviates a lot from what someone would call a blues atmosphere. It contains traditional, acoustic elements as well as some very strong and modern sounds which bring about respect for this Greek blues band.
Nevertheless, the band’s music roots, is the blues despite the fact that this particular band dares to improvise and get inspired by other musical genres as well. Some people ,on the other hand, believe that once they have discovered the richness and the depth of the blues, they can move on to different directions. What this band does is to narrate emotional stories that may not be very attractive to someone looking for something else as the blues requires a deep understanding of emotions.
In the end, I wish to point out the albums highlights in my humble opinion and which I believe, are worth the listener’s attention: Mr. Jack, The Sky Will Always Be Blue, This Train Is Full Of Madness, It's True, Seven plus .... The Last Part Of The Show, a brilliant boogie It Took Me A Long Time, Roy B. impressive, excellent electric blues The World Is Painted Blue Again, the acoustic Surely My Body Gets the Message, and finally, the version of the great song “Buy A Dog”.
RECOMMENDATION:
If music is the universal language, and it is, then the album Red Snakes & Cave Bats - Small Blues Trap is an ideal example of how this great 'gang', although very, very far from the Mississippi Delta mud plays its music.
If blues is a universal language and it is, then, there are all these dialects, dialects, which will also be recognized by the many, and after a little effort, these sounds won’t seem strange at all.
Personally, I will simply do not wish to negatively criticize them but to encourage them. I do that with all the obviously talented blues musicians, and Small Blues Trap guys certainly are that. And so, look for a comfortable chair, pour a glass of red wine, Close your eyes and let yourself, let the blues flood you. ... Believe me, the blues is the kind of music that never lies!
Mladen Lončar

Comment by Small Blues Trap on May 27, 2010 at 2:24am