Four Sticks: Electric Celebration

With a name like Four Sticks, you won't be too surprised to hear that this seriously rockin' four piece borrow from Led Zeppelin. However that tip of the hat is more in ethos rather than out and out worship, with the easier blues rock side of Page merely a touching point for the Electric Celebration album. Instead much more is going on here, the flawless vocals from Stefan Berggren (Company Of Snakes/Snakes In Paradise) adding an early Ronnie James Dio and Ray Gillen flavour and the easy, smooth style roaming from all out to rock to classy funk as it keeps you on your toes. It all comes together to hark right back to a time before bombast was the object, or riffs had to be gigantic to have effect. Instead guitarist Henrik Bergqvist (The Poodles) coaxes with some of the most seductive six-string-singing work you could hope to find – he can rock and he can roll, yet what makes him stand tall and proud is that oft forgotten art of playing exactly what the songs require and allowing them to breathe in the most natural of ways. Nothing here sounds forced and in many ways, while Zep are an undoubted influence, we're heading further into Deep Purple MKIII and IV territory.

However don't let me have you thinking 4S can't rock – they can, and how! Sample the insistent "Under My Thumb" for proof, or the stunning "Wondercolourblue", where the organ work from guest Joakim Svalberg raises the standard even higher, before Bergqvist rips out a scintillating solo. However the funkabulous "Hallelujah" heads off in a different direction, answering the question of what would a Led Zep/early Stevie Wonder crossover have sounded like – fantastic being the conclusion! Huge credit goes to the rhythm section of bassist Tomas Thorberg (Michael Schenker/John Norum) and drummer Sebastian Sippola (Grand Magus/Fortune), the pair laying it down fat and thick, while having the class and precision to keep it loose and flowing. "Intertwined" keeps things hypnotic and smooth in an early Whitesnake manner, Berggren's vocals utterly captivating, while the title track proves this lot can hammer it out when the mood takes them. Although in fairness it's the effortless ability to simply go where the songs take them that makes Four Sticks so engaging.

This album was initially released back in 1997, however this wonderful reissue from Grooveyard Records comes with the sublime bonus cut "World Is Calling", which covers the Four Sticks spectrum from easy mid paced suggestion, to full on rock enforcement. If you missed Electric Celebration the first time round, prepare to party long and party hard, for this is superb!

Track Listing
1. UNDER MY THUMB

2. HALLELUJAH

3. MUSIC REVOLUTION

4. WONDERCOLOURBLUE

5. INTERTWINED

6. JUST GOT BACK

7. ELECTRIC CELEBRATION

8. STANGE DREAM

9. BROKEN GLASS

10. REASON TO LIVE

11. LIKE A FLOWER

12. WORLD IS CALLING (BONUS TRACK)

Added: June 14th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Electric Celebration at the Grooveyard
Hits: 3079
Language: english

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