Wraptors say that they don’t follow any rules. Of course that’s impossible, which they realize themselves as they add: “Well…maybe a few. But not on purpose…”

When I listen I’m beginning to understand what they mean. The sound in itself is not the odd thing about them, neither the riffs, but the songs, the melodies, the harmonies and how all this is arranged. In a way it feels like a post grunge rocker has joined a couple of progressive rockers, a Zappa fan and a metal guitarist, but they twist it, making it hard to make any direct genre-comparisons, even if I somewhere hear the influences.

Many times it feels kind of backwards, and sometimes when I think I just have gotten into a chord-melody sequence that feels “normal”, they make a hard turn and lure me away.

It’s their album “Held High” I’m listening to, a challenging album that requires attention and quite a few listens. I like challenges and I also liked this album, which was both fun and interesting to listen to. And I’m starting to get a hang of it now…

The albumet “Held High” is available on Spotify (and other services) and you can find Wraptors on Facebook.

Stoked On Stakes
To Beat a Beast

The band Alex Carole and the Crush, hailing from Fagersta, was formed in 2009 at the initiative of the singer and guitarist Anders Pietsch, aka Alex Carole. The members came from bands like CDOASS, Bruket and The Savages.

In April they released their debut album “Vol 1.”, an album full of nice, messy  rock’n’roll, sometimes with vibes from The Clash, sometimes from more contemporary indie rock.

Listen to the albumet on Spotify and follow the band at their site.

Will I Get It?
And Know About Me

Andreas London is someone that unusual as a feministic  singer/songwriter, who has released his debut album “Andreas London”. He swings hard in many directions, and reminds us, at least here in Sweden, that ten years ago, every politician, nomatter what party, called themselves feminists. It’s also an irony that this is performed by a man in one of the most male industries there is, the music industry.

Musically there is one comparison in front of all others: Bob Dylan. And Dylan from the years of 64-65, well performed with Andreas’ somewhat draggy voice, like a mix of Plura, Anders F. Rönnblom and Håkan Hellström, made for delivering this. It works really well with his poetry readings, which also opens up for more personal stories.

You can listen more on Spotify or on his Bandcamp page or on Facebook.

Individ (“Individual”)
Men det är faktiskt synd om män också (“But also men should be pitied”)

I wrote about Eddie Wheeler in 2008 here on the blog, and presented some of his music. There were plans of releasing an album in 2009, but what happened instead was that Eddie started a collaboration with musician Henrik Nordahl, aka Hank Wheeler, and the band Wheeler was formed.

Last week they released the debut album “Wheeler”. And it’s an impressive album. They’ve continued to build upon Eddies style with an acoustic, mellow, dark rock, but yet it’s something completely different from what I’ve heard before. Eddie sings his personal lyrics in Swedish and he also sings better than ever before. Or maybe it’s because of the language and it can be felt. Even if you don’t understand Swedish I think you can appreciate it and understand what it’s about.

The sound is largely built upon acoustic guitars and is smoldering beautiful and well produced. It’s partly dark and creates en emotion that acompanies what’s said between the lines, even if we can feel a glimpse of light here and there.

Here below you can help yourself to the first two tracks from the album. Listen more on Wheeler’s site or on Spotify. Wheeler’s also on Facebook.

Allt för dig
Catch

It’s hard to imagine more retro-sixties’-psychadelia vibes than The Orange Revival‘s album “Lord I’m Gonna Shake It”. From the starting sitar-Flower Power-instrumental they get into sixties’-sounding psychadelia rock in various ways, almost like it’s taken from one of the Nuggets-albums, but I also get the feeling that Rolling Stones has been the inspiration in some track and Velvet Underground in others, especially in “She Couldn’t Imagine”.

You can enjoy the entire album on Bandcamp and you can follow the band on Facebook.

Give Me Your Love
Well Well