British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Atlas is back with a new single that gets right to the heart of betrayal but also makes it totally danceable. "Foolin Me" is a gritty, modern blues so groove-drenched it sounds like it could have come blasting out of a juke joint any time over the past 50 years. This arrangement does such a great job walking that tightrope between vintage blues sound and something thoroughly contemporary.
The riff has a grubby, cottony tone that telegraphs Atlas's authority in the blues while also locking into a bristling pocket groove that draws heavily on funk and soul from the rhythm section. Working with lyricist Robin Monotti, who also co-writes with Eric Clapton, Atlas uses non-rock-band vocabulary that is sharp, witty, and grounded in real emotion. The song addresses the openness of being tricked, but Atlas wraps it in charisma and melodic flair, making the story as irresistible as the groove.
Atlas's singing is easy and elastic, with subtle shifts between heartstring-pulling blues and agile soulful turns. All of these things are real and show where he gets his rep for making such a seamless blend of blues, jazz, funk, soul, and Americana. The single's production has an overall organic warmth, marrying a live, intimate presence that serves as a great antidote to Atlas's bold performance style.
"Foolin Me" is not just a song but an assertion of artistic multitudes. Atlas demonstrates that he's capable of addressing classic blues themes while still maintaining a modern, accessible, and personal sound. For lovers of genre-defying music with emotional conviction and a rhythm that's impossible to resist, "Foolin Me" is a lesson in the art of contemporary blues storytelling.