By Monk
One of the beautiful things about rock ‘n’ roll is that it is a universal language, as well as an artform that transcends international boundaries, appealing to people and bringing them together in the interest of a mutual love and respect for what it has to offer. Therefore, it doesn’t matter where in the Überverse an artist or band hails from: they have the ability, and the opportunity, to make music which travels through time and space, and defies genre-boundaries and geographic-specific restrictions. Therefore, a band can produce a sound that evokes the spirit of the NWoBHM but in fact hail from the dark forests of Indonesia, or a group of desert rockers can hail from the industrial heartland of northern Italy…
… Such a case in point are these guys, Backwood Spirit, who well and truly live up to their name: because, despite hailing from the landlocked Swedish city state of Örebro (what the feck are they putting in the beer there?) evoke the early Seventies southern rock vibe of the likes of the Allman Brothers, coupled with a SoCal psychedelic groove that evinces that of Jefferson Airplane and a classic rock sensibility that touches base with the likes of Free and Mott The Hoople, meaning that it fits very firmly, and confidently, into the NWoCR mien that has come to such prominence in the past half-decade or so.
Led by the supremely talented guitarist/songwriter Kent Engström, Backwood Spirit specialize in the mellower end of the classic rock-meets-southern blues sound, recalling lazy summer evenings sitting on the porch listening to the cicadas chirping and sipping some of that good old home-brewed ‘shine while your woman dances gracefully in the darkening light, the fireflies dancing around her long hair and flowing skirt, while the children shoot hoops and secretly load up on that forbidden sugar stash you forgot you’d left on the kitchen worktop… Yes, they do have their heavier moments, such as opener and current single ‘Catch Your Fire’ and the gospel-swell of ‘Something About You’, which comes complete with a ZZ Top-style winding riff, but even then, these feel so relaxed and laconic that they fit beautifully into the overall flow of the album.
‘Fresh From The Can’ is one of those albums on which you will hear so many things you know you have heard over and over again, so much so that it can be disconcerting. However, those ingredients are blended together with the expertise of a Michelin Star chef, and the result is a very appetizing feast indeed: a very pleasant listen best enjoyed on one of those rare days when that little yellow ball decides to make an appearance and dispel some of the chill and gloom.
- ‘Fresh From The Can’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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