Review: Selwyn Birchwood Dials In the Grit on Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues
Alligator Records | Released March 27, 2026
Selwyn Birchwood takes full control on his sixth Alligator Records release. Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues marks the first time the Florida guitarist has self-produced an album. Moreover, you can hear the difference in every note. This isn’t just another collection of blues tracks. Instead, Birchwood delivers his complete artistic vision. He’s been cultivating this sound since he picked up a guitar as a 13-year-old kid chasing Jimi Hendrix tones..
The album’s title describes his music accurately. Birchwood coined the term himself. He pulls from Chicago, Delta, Memphis, Piedmont, and Texas blues traditions. Then he runs them through a Florida filter where swamp humidity meets psychedelic rock. Additionally, he adds booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul. The result sounds distinctly like Birchwood and nobody else.
His production choices reveal clear intentions. He recorded 10 original tracks in Florida. Furthermore, they walk that tightrope between gritty gutbucket blues and contemporary grooves. “The Church Of Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues” opens like a psychedelic soul sermon. Birchwood delivers his statement of purpose with foot-pounding fervor. Meanwhile, longtime saxophonist Regi Oliver’s baritone creates a unique front line. He pairs it with Birchwood’s guitar and signature Caladesi lap steel. Consequently, the band creates a sound that’s immediately recognizable.
Birchwood tackles both timeless blues themes and distinctly modern concerns. “Damaged Goods” strips things down to raw honesty. In contrast, “All Hail The Algorithm” and “Talking Heads” offer up-to-the-minute observations. “Labour Of Love” examines parenting’s joys and pains with emotional weight. Similarly, “The Struggle Is Real” feels like an anthem for right now.
Birchwood unleashes his full guitar capabilities across the album. “What I’ve Been Accused Of” delivers tough slide playing. However, “Soulmate” smolders with slow-burning romance. Then “Should’ve Never Gotten Out Of Bed” erupts with blazing intensity. This fire draws blues purists and jam band crowds alike. His vocals match his fretwork in power. They attack with gravelly, soulful command. Furthermore, they shift from devastating whispers to soul-baring screams.
The production depth sets this album apart from his previous work. Taking the wheel allowed him to present these songs with three-dimensional sound. The mix gives space to every instrument. Nevertheless, it maintains the raw edge that defines his music. You can hear his Buddy Guy influences in the incendiary guitar passages. Additionally, there’s that Hendrix-inspired willingness to push boundaries and color outside the lines.
Birchwood wants people to feel less isolated through honest songwriting. These 10 tracks deliver on that promise. He doesn’t borrow stories or recycle blues clichés. Instead, he tells modern tales. He’s logged 150 shows a year across 23 countries. Consequently, he’s absorbed influences and refined his craft the old-school way through touring and living.
After working with producers like Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, Birchwood proves he knows where his music should go. Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues shows an artist hitting his stride. He honors the tradition while creating something unmistakably his own. This is Florida blues, fully realized.
Want to learn a bit more, read our profile of Selwyn Birchwood
