ACCORDING TO LIFE...

I'm going to ramble a bit but I'm so looking forward to jumping into Psychedelic music with both feet this coming new year. This is sort of like throwing myself a bone I suppose listening to one of my favourite Swedish Psychedelic bands this past week. I'm such a fan of their debut "Lost And So Strange Is My Mind" released back in 2005. Well I scooped up their second album "According To Life..." released in 2009 with a new rhythm section in tow. They still are a five piece of two guitarists, vocals/ flute, bass and drums.

These guys create powerful music often but the flute and mellow sections are excellent contrasts. I like the vocals sung in English. This band has had connections with ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE right from the start but also one of the guitarists here and the new bass player started HOOFFOOT the same year this record was released in 2009. Funny how the new bass player Par Hallgren discovered RPI, 70's Jazz and Ktautrock all late in his life and he says that IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO's "YS" changed his life.

The music here is almost like a guilty pleasure with the guitar, vocals and flute and it's often straight forward. I'm not huge on the opener but after that I mean there's four straight tracks that hit the spot for me. Especially "Eternal Sleep" where they come out of the corner swinging but how good is this when it settles with flute. Vocals are reserved and join in quickly. Some wordless vocals and an excellent instrumental break. Check out the guitar before 4 minutes.

"Without A Past" is cool with that urgent rhythm with bass standing out. Nice uplifting chorus too. Wordless vocals on that second track as well. "Cosmical Mind" opens with distortion and energy with guitar leading the way as the vocals join in. I like the guitar solo starting around 4 minutes. More wordless vocals. I really like that Psychedelic chill to start "Lost" with that flute and laid back vocals."Why Am I" might be the proggiest but I'm not a big fan although I like the melancholy before 2 minutes with the guitar and flute. The closer is called "Forever Is A Long Time" and it's led by the guitar early and it's fairly heavy. A calm just before a minute as vocals join in and so begins our 10 1/2 minute journey.

So yes I'm a big fan of both of their albums and would highly recommend both.