06/06/2024
New album available to buy at live performances, official digital release July 2024.
(Press Release)
ERROL LINTON – BREAK THE SEAL
New Album from the Brixton Blues Man
- Ten tunes that reflect the struggles and joy of life in Britain today.
- The final album to be recorded at London’s celebrated Toerag Studios.
- ‘Country Girl (City Girl)’ is the first single and a summer smash.
Anyone interested in contemporary British blues/roots music will be aware of Errol Linton. The Brixton born, raised and resident singer, harmonica player and songwriter has earned his spurs as leader of the most dynamic live band in the UK – Linton and band take the stage night after night, making music that gets audiences dancing and cheering. This is the funky stuff, blues with a reggae tinge and jazz flavours. Black British music with roots in Mississippi and New Orleans, Kingston and London. Linton creates a dynamic, original sound like no other artist anywhere.
Linton started out busking and, for years, played in the London underground for tips. At the same time he led a band who played pubs and clubs, shebeens and parties, winning fans night after night. Now that reputation is worldwide – Linton won the UK Blues Challenge 2023 and represented the UK Blues Federation both at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA, and the European Blues Challenge in Braga, Portugal. The band regularly play in Belgium, Holland, France, Spain and Poland, have appeared at Glastonbury and Wilderness festivals.
Cerys Matthews, Robert Elms and David Freeman champion Errol on their radio shows, while The Guardian described Linton as the figurehead for contemporary British blues.
After 30 years in the game, Errol could coast on his reputation - and that of his superb band – drummer Kenrick Rowe and double bassist Lance Rose are in demand players, regularly working with top reggae, jazz, 2-Tone and rock outfits. Pianist Pete Zivkovic and guitarist Richie Green have backed leading soul, funk and blues singers. Not a chance: Errol’s determined to keep developing and Break The Seal has ten new songs, of which eight are original - the other two being imaginative adaptations of old blues tunes.
And these songs are amongst the best Linton has ever recorded – ‘Country Girl (City Girl)’ is a sunny, funky dance tune while ‘Man Shot Down’ is an ominous reggae-flecked tune reflecting on London’s mean streets. There are love songs and break-up songs and a banging homage to Bo Diddley with ‘Bo Diddit’ – “we opened for Bo at the Paris Olympia a long time ago,” recalls Errol. “He was cool. So this tune is us jamming on that big rhumba rhythm he popularised.”
Break The Seal is the last album recorded at Toe Rag Studios, Liam Watson’s celebrated back-to-mono setup that has now been forced to shut-up shop due to property developers. Linton believes it's his best album yet – “I really focused on my vocals, singing well. We cut pretty much everything live – the band are so focused - did it all in two days. I think it sounds fresh.”
Following ‘Packing My Bags’ and ‘No Entry’, Break The Seal completes the triptych of studio albums recorded with Brassdog Records.
Break The Seal is dedicated to the memory of Ruby Naomi Linton – “my dear mother” – whose sudden passing in 2023 gave Errol the deepest blues he’s ever had to deal with.
“At least I’ve got the music to express my pain,” says Linton. “Pain and joy – we play a lot of happy blues.” He chuckles then announces its time to go to work – tonight is the fifth night of a ten night run. “These are hard times and to survive them we have to be a hard working band,” says Errol Linton, proud leader of the finest live band in Britain.
Garth Cartwright:
He has written for many publications including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Songlines, Record Collector, fRoots and Jazzwise.
He is the author of several books including Princes Amongst Men: Journeys With Gypsy Musicians, More Miles Than Money: Journeys Through American Music and Miles Davis: The Complete Illustrated History.
