Selwyn Birchwood - Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Release date: March 27 , 2026
Alligator Records
By Mark Thompson
Over the years since he and his band won the 2013 International Blues Challenge, sponsored by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN, guitarist Selwyn Birchwood has pursued his own musical vision, providing an invaluable lesson for many of the new generation of blues artists. The IBC win led to his relationship with Alligator Records, with his latest album being his fifth for the famed label.
Once again, the set list is brimming with stellar originals penned by the guitarist. And, for the first time on Alligator, Birchwood produced the project, allowing listeners to experience each song as Birchwood envisioned them in his own mind.
After a brief guitar interlude mixed with voices from NASA Command central, the band turns up the heat with the title track, “The Church of Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues,” which serves as a manifesto for the blues done Birchwood-style -- a swirling mix of blues, rock, Florida funk, and gospel powered by wah-wah guitar licks. When Donald “Huff” Wright on bass and Henley Connor III on drums kick things into high gear with the leader on his lap steel guitar, they shake the rafters with the intensity of sacred steel church service. Birchwood makes their intent clear, “We ain't chasing prophets or profit, just the creation of joyful jubilation.”
On “What I've Been Accused Of,” the singer is despondent about his overly suspicious partner, convicted in the court of love without any evidence, leaving him to wonder if he should finally give in to temptation, while musing: “If you're going to treat me like I'm cheatin', I might as well sow what I'm reaping, because Lord knows I'd hate to make a liar out of you!” It is an outstanding slow blues, given a bit of hope from the fine piano solo from John Hetherington. The singer is in a much better place on “Labor Of Love,” a tender ballad that offers a forthright examination of marriage and family, punctuated by Regi Oliver's touching baritone saxophone solo and the memorable backing vocals of Brianna Lutzi and Taylor Opie. Eli Bishop is a one-man string section, who multi-tracks contributions on violin, viola, and cello.
Another highlight occurs on “Soulmate,” a smoldering reminder that love can be waiting right around the corner. In the mean time, Birchwood is perfectly happy to pass the time pulling a fierce, scorching six string declaration out of his Flying V guitar. But bad times are always close at hand, as witnessed on “Should Never Had Gotten Out Of Bed,” with layered guitar parts over a driving drum beat, with Birchwood's lap steel in overdrive, spinning out searing licks in a ferocious attempt to drive the blues from his door. “Damaged Goods” finds his deep, rich voice resonating in the throes of an honest self-assessment, acknowledging that, “I've been broke, but I'm not broken.....Life's beat me down, but I'm not beat.” Once again, his guitar has the final word with a superbly executed coda.
Birchwood has never shied away from observations on modern life, so it comes as no surprise to hear his observations on the “talking heads” and their role in turning the news into a battle of personalities and half-truths, noting, “But a lie repeated a thousand times is still a lie.” His world view gets even darker on “All Hail The Algorithm,” with cautionary observations on modern technology and its pervasive influence on humanity, perceiving that “...the best way to enslave a man, you got to convince him to put the chains on his own hands.”
To close the album, Birchwood offers the hymn “The Struggle Is Real,” reciting issues he continues to encounter due to the color of his skin. Despair, resignation, and hope play out through his measured vocal as he joins the backing vocalists in sending up a prayer for a brighter tomorrow.
Birchwood put out his last album, Old School, on his own, a self-produced project that he believed people should hear. It was certainly great training, as his new album is noteworthy from beginning to end. It takes a steady hand to combine the various musical contributions, to layer multiple guitar parts into a coherent musical landscape that enhances the thought-provoking lyrics of his original compositions. Birchwood succeeds admirably as the producer, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist, creating an album that amplifies his standing as one of our finest contemporary blues artists, someone not to be missed!
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About the Author: Mark Thompson lives in Bradenton, Florida and is the past president of the Suncoast Blues Society. A former Chicago area native, he also acted as the president of Rockford/Byron's Crossroads Blues Society. Thompson writes for many blues publications and served on the Board for the Blues Foundation in Memphis, which hosts the annual Blues Music Awards and International Blues Challenge events.
To stream or purchase the album: https://www.alligator.com/
Artist website: www.selwynbirchwood.com
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