Probably the most familiar Finn to most music lovers, Era Lyytinen has been one of the celebrated guitarists – whether male or female or of any nationality – for a good many years. Both as a guitarist and as a songwriter she has been nominated for award after award and sold out tour after tour since first appearing in the Blues Caravan alongside Oli Brown & Joanne Shaw Taylor back in 2009. This is her first album since ‘Waiting For The Daylight’ three years ago.
To me, the album is very different to her previous material. Some of the tracks show a darker and more powerful sound – ‘Abyss’ especially is harder and more intense than much of her earlier material. There is much more emphasis on guitar and riffage than before, fewer other instruments and much tighter production (by Lyytinen herself). .“2024 was very innovative for me. I started to write new songs in Spring 2024 when I had a chance between my hectic schedule,” says Erja. “On my last studio album from 2022, Waiting for the Daylight, we had lots of layers on each track - violins, keyboards, tens of guitar tracks and lots of backing tracks. With the new album, I wanted to go the opposite direction. For the album Smell the Roses I wanted to put the focus on the guitar riffs and guitar solos and make the band instruments stand out individually.”
Hardest and most ‘punchy’ is the second single from the album ‘The Ring’. Tight riffs and solos, all good stuff.
That said, there is plenty of music here that is more upbeat, the title track especially. Elaborating on the track Erja said: “The message is simple - wake up and Smell the Roses. There’s so much beauty in the world, so why don’t we stop and enjoy it rather than fighting and wanting more.”
I prefer the album to ‘…Daylight’ and I feel that it represents Erja Lyytinen in a much better light – definitely more representable onstage. Very fine.
