7/10

Over these last few years, Greek artist Iam Nothe has been one of the more formidable forces on the European blues circuit. Blending traditional grooves with a more progressive approach to both songwriting and production has earned him countless praise over the years, something that he has always looked to build upon with every new release. And with his tenure still looking to grow, he now returns with his latest EP 'Syd Session: Live at Barrett', a three-track collection that highlights some of his more impactful efforts to date.

Recorded on the 2nd June at Athens-based record store Syd Records to celebrate their eighth year of existence, 'Syd Session: Live at Barrett' sees him give an intimate performance of three of the more notable additions lifted from his much-loved 2022 album 'The Grand Design'. Bringing this broader and more emotive texture to these passionate odes at every turn, he pushes the heartfelt lyricism to the forefront of these new recordings, highlighting the richness and vigour he looks to project across all of his material so far.

While only a brief snapshot of his live credentials, 'Syd Session: Live at Barrett' makes for a truly immersive listen as it plays. Delivering fine-tuned and almost studio quality performances throughout, Iam Nothe elevates what has already been a bold and captivating run of form these last few years.