Martin Hutchinson is a native of Athy, now resident in Holland. Now Tell Me is his second album, a cool handed take on the blues with a distinctly Irish feel. The influence of Rory Gallagher is never far from the front line of Now Tell Me, especially on two tracks: the instrumental ‘Rory’ and the lament ‘So Rory’s Gone’ – unashamed homages to the great man.

Hutchinson’s real strength lies in his slide guitar: sometimes somnolent and, at others, honky tonking in the best truckin’ tradition. His achille’s heel however, is his voice, which at times strains under the weight of those delta licks.

This, then, is an album primarily for blues fiends and rhythm kings. ‘Waiting’ lets Hutchinson loose on an array of riffs that promise healthy thermometor readings for his live shows; ‘Glory Shuffle’ is blues wrapped up in a guileless Athy accent, while the closer ‘Blow My Horn’ finally witnesses Hutchinson getting down and dirty for real.

Now Tell Me promises a mighty fine live performance, should Hutchinson venture back home some time soon. There’s no doubting his pedigree either. Who knows? Maybe the Dublin Blues festival will cradle him in its voluptuous arms next year.