Crystal Caravan, The: The Crystal Caravan

The Crystal Caravan are a hard rock band from that hotbed of music that is Sweden. Included in the band are Niklas Gustafsson (vocals), Bjorn Lohmander (guitar), Stefan Branberg (guitar), Jonas Lindskold (organ), Pierre Svensson (bass), Annika Branberg (percussion) and Christopher Olsson (drums). This is pure hard rock in the vein of Mountain , The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Who and the like. The vocals of Gustafsson are well suited for a hard rock delivery displaying some rough overtones but filled with emotion. Vocals are in English with little hint of an accent. Although a guitar heavy album, organ is also used extensively at times giving the music a Doors feel at their most rocking. Also of note is the furious drumming of Olsson bringing back memories of Keith Moon. In fact, the entire album carries a 70s psychedelic vibe that sounds refreshing and vibrant. In other words this CD kicks some serious ass.

The album starts off with a bang as "Between the Mountain and the Spoon" exhibits pure hard rock bliss. With a vocal delivery that at times reminded me of Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Gustafsson puts everything into his performance. In the hard rocking "Tombstone Eyes" the drumming of Olsson sets a blistering pace as it does for many of these songs. The melodic opening of "Down Under" carries an undercurrent of melancholy with Gustafsson reminding me of a young Mick Jagger, singing with real conviction. The slower pace and nice keyboard melody is a welcome respite to the hard rock beginnings. The soft organ intro of "Wicked Mind" quickly transforms into another scorcher of jack hammer drumming and speedy guitar riffs. Psychedelic guitar and organ playfully intermingle in "Dead Inside" where Olsson is also at his finest giving the skins a real workout.

And so it goes. There are no surprises here, just good old fashion rock and roll in the vein of those greats from the 70s. If your in need of a hard rock fix look no further than The Crystal Caravan as they will surely provide it.

Track Listing:
1. Between the Mountain and the Spoon
2. Tombstone Eyes
3. Down Under
4. Wicked Mind
5. Dead Inside
6. A New Time Is Coming
7. Train Song
8. Flying High (Or So It Seems)
9. Monkey
10. Desert King

Added: May 10th 2009
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2334
Language: english

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