Released last year on CD, then at the beginning of 2022 on limited edition vinyl on the "Apollon Records" label, this work by the group Years After comes to us from Norway, from the splendid city of Bergen with its multicolored houses. The eight tracks contained in the album are sure to enchant unconditional fans of the Allman Brothers Band Betts period for its melodic qualities. Years After, resourceful as leaders, has well assimilated the Allman Bros style, which feeds their album, starting in a beautiful way with the short title "Follow the Trail", well inspired by the guitar playing and by the musical spirit of Dickey Betts. Next comes "Stand Back", which is not that of The Allman Bros from the "Eat a Peach" album, despite its resemblance in its slide guitar plans. Good mid-tempo develops on "Free". Always the shimmering style of Dickey Betts vibrates on the good "Don't Leave Me" which gives an impression of copy-paste despite its quality, same magic potion on "Blue". A change takes place on the languorous blues "When You're Gone" emanating from the jams of Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. The title "Les Montagnes" appears in French in the text, an instrumental, top of the album with always this Dickey Betts color with a dedication for the keyboardist of Years After who is having a field day on his B3. Acoustic blues "Porch Blues" closes the deal. Despite this mix of German clichés and this surname eying Alvin Lee, we have to admit that this young Norwegian quintet works very well on guitars as well as vocally. To check for yourself, only one address: the Bandcamp site.

https://yearsafter1.bandcamp.com/album/years-after

Jacques Dersigny