Album: James Blood Ulmer, In and Out (In And Out Records)

Almost 30 years since his unlikely post-punk semi-hit Are You Glad to Be in America?, guitarist/ vocalist Ulmer sounds like an even bluesier version of his former self, oddly accented rhythmic flurries poised somewhere between Ornette Coleman and Jimi Hendrix.

It's a power trio set with Mark Peterson on bass and Aubrey Dayle on drums, and Ulmer plays flute as well as guitar. The terrific opener, "No Man's Land" – like a gumbo version of "Voodoo Chile" – proves hard to beat, although a wah-wah blues, "Maya", runs it close.