Canadian artists are doing well these days. No other country in the Western World has developed such a well-functioning system of economic support for their artists. Some highly unique and individual talent has emerged from the Great White North in recent years. Not only blues guys like Grant Lyle have benefitted from this system. They received support concerning their studio time for this album. The system works for many different genres of music and art in general. It makes artists more independent from the rules of the market. A good thing, for sure.
But despite all of this, paying one's dues is still one of the top requirements for anyone trying to make it as a blues guy. And that's exactly why Winnipeg-born Grant Lyle couldn't resist the lure of Toronto, a city with immense vitality and many different scenes. Especially the roots music scene of Toronto is alive with talent and this is where the aspiring guitar slinger found his very own dream team with Scott "Boomer" Brammer on bass and drummer Steve Woods. Both are veterans of the local scene and know exactly what's to be done in the format of an electric blues-rock trio. Grant Lyle himself is a man of many influences, the most important of which are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and - quite surprisingly - Freddy McDowell.

His voice is pretty similar to Stevie Ray's as well. With all of the guitar-playing genius of the late Texan, one tends to forget that he was a real good singer, too. Rough and ready, but good nevertheless. Grant Lyle has the same kind of rough vocal intensity and has never made this influence a secret. It's a very direct kind of emo-tionality and it doesn't matter whether it's a prototype shuffle ("Found The One"), a R'n'B ballad ("Traces"), a slow blues ("Ain't Nobody's Business") or a straight 12 bar blues like "Dig". This special quality of rough emotionality is always there. This guy's blues heart is beating, but don't expect innovation or experiments from him. Grant Lyle's sound is about paying his respect to the blues rock tradition and about good, clean fun, naturally.

He is pretty adept at mixing his original material with favorite blues covers by the likes of Willie Dixon, Johnny Copeland or Elmore James. On top of that, one of the key attractions of TRACES is that the band never tries to impress with a million notes. But they know how to create all the necessary accents and they have a great sense for rhythmic detail. You're always left with the wish for the music to go on longer than it actually does. So this is pure and solid bluesrock with a lot of soul, played with a refreshing attitude. It gets you hooked pretty nicely...

Radio and press in Canada and the US have responded very favorably to this music and now's the time for European audiences to catch up with Grant Lyle and his "Brotherhood". For the time being, it's time for a wake-up call to all those who have neglected Canadian music so far. This great little band led by Grant Lyle rocks and who could ask for more.
lineup
Grant Lyle - guitar, vocals
Scott Brammer - bass
Steve Woods - drums

track listing
Found the One (Grant Lyle/Steve Wood/Scott Brammer) 4:26
It's Worth It (Grant Lyle/Steve Wood/Scott Brammer) 3:24
Can't Be Satisfied (McKinley Morganfield) 2:59
Don't Go No Further (Willie Dixon) 2:48
Traces (Grant Lyle/Steve Wood/Scott Brammer) 6:18
Make it All Right (M. Franks) 3:15
Can't Stop Lovin' My Baby (Elmor James) 2:41
Down on Bending Knees (Charles Josephs Booth/Johnny Copeland/) 3:55
Just a Stranger (Walker A. S. James Jr.) 3:44
Ain't Nobody's Business (P. Grainer/R.G. Prince/C. Williams/J. Witherspoon) 3:33
Dig (Grant Lyle/Steve Wood/Scott Brammer) 3:58
All Your Love (Otis Rush) 3:07
Another Mile (Grant Lyle/Steve Wood/Scott Brammer) 4:47
Mellow Down Easy (Walter Jacobs) 2:23
Shufflin' (G. Morosnick) 3:17