Swedish act Gin Lady emerged out of the ashes of heavy prog act Black Bonzo back in 2012, and have steadily grown into a very solid classic rock act steeped in the magical sounds of the '70s. On their latest effort Electric Earth, the band go even further into that style, incorporating some West Coast elements of the folk rock scene as well, making Electric Earth a really fun album to listen to, almost as if it came out of a time capsule from 1972. The band in 2018 are:
Magnus Kärnebro: Vocals
Joakim Karlsson: Electric guitar and vocals
Anthon Johansson: Bass and vocals
Fredrik Normark: Drums
Not sure who is playing keyboards these days, but there is a fair amount of organ, piano, and Mellotron to be found here, so that aspect of their sound hasn't changed much. Kärnebro's vocals have gotten so good over the years, and he shines on the Rolling Stones-ish "Badger Boogie" and the psychedelic pop rocker "Flower People". "I'm Your Friend" has a certain CS&N, as well as Allman Brothers Band feel to it, as does the rootsy "The Things You Used to Do", complete with some tasty blues rock guitar solos, piano, and swirling organ. "Mercy" mixes Humble Pie styled hard blues rock with acoustic elements, while "Brothers of the Canyon" again brings out those breezy California harmonies of the late '60s, think CS&N, The Mama's and the Papa's, Spirit, and Buffalo Springfield. "Rolling Thunder" also hints at West Coast folk rock, Southern Rock, and blues, while "Water and Sunshine" ups the ante with some groove laden hard rock flavors and a great vocal hook. Tricky guitar riffs permeate the Stones influenced rocker "Wasted Years", another tune with a killer hook, and the album closes with the mostly acoustic ballad "Running No More", which also features some truly haunting Mellotron.
In a perfect world, Electric Earth would be a million units seller for Gin Lady. It basically has it all, great melodies, expert instrumentation, and potent vocals. Just a really, really strong album that's just a blast to listen to, feel good music of the highest order. It's not heavy, it's not really progressive, but just a fun rock 'n' roll album that needs to be heard and enjoyed.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Flower People
2. I'm Your Friend
3. Badger Boogie
4. The Things You Used To Do
5. Mercy
6. Brothers Of The Canyon
7. Rolling Thunder
8. Water And Sunshine
9. Wasted Years
10. Running No More
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