With the almost total collapse of the music business model that had been in place since the late 1950's, It has been a godsend for music fans. Despite what uber greed merchant Gene Simmons thinks rock is not dead. In fact, it is thriving from an artistic and musical perspective, if not a commercial one. It is a matter of rethinking how we quantify success.
The explosion of the underground rock scene from labels to boutique festivals to bands pushing the boundaries musically has gifted the fans a golden age for the music we love. Unlike the more high-profile Thrash or Grunge movements which where geographically focused and concentrated in specific areas this is a global phenomenon. Open your map (or search engine of choice) pick a country at random, they are almost guaranteed to have produced a great rock band.
In the case of Sweden, it seems to be an endless flow of brilliant rock music. Ghost, Opeth, Meshuggah, Amon Amarth, Candlemass, Arch Enemy, do I need to go on? This is not an accident or as many believe that with months of darkness there is not much else to do (although I am sure this is a factor). No, the Government takes a progressive and long view to arts and music. It encourages and gives incentives to musicians. The Swedish Arts Council grants 17.48 million SEK to over one hundred acts (which can be funneled in to recording and touring), 3.78 Million goes to Music Venues. Seen as a vital export for a country with a population of 9.5 million, the long view pays off with the Swedish Performing Rights Society (STIM) paying out over 2 billion SEK in royalties for Swedish Music Played worldwide!!! (If only other Government's only took Note)
Which brings me to the Psych/Prog Charlotta's Burnin' Trio or CB3 for short. Lead by renowned and degree level educated guitar player Charlotta Andersson. In-between representing Sweden at the International Association Schools of jazz and teaching jazz guitar professionally, her band have managed to put out four studio albums and two live albums since 2015. The descriptively named Exploration expands on the bands previous albums pushing out further into long compositions and occasional vocals.
Starting with "Daydreams." It sets out an indie, fuzzy guitar tone, supported by Pelle Lindsjö (Bass) and Nathanael Solmonsson (Drums) it has a hazy, quality that floats along and eases into a dreamlike middle section before returning to main riff. The next song "To Space and Away" retains this mood with a slightly more sinister and darker groove. The playing throughout from all three musicians as you can imagine is top drawer, with solos touching on the right side of shredding and always inspired. Titles "Going to the Horizon," "In a rainbow with Friends" and "Through Space and Time" thermically almost requires absorbing the album in one sitting as the songs feel like extensions of each other. The timing of the release may be misjudged entering autumn as to my ears at least this is the soundtrack to long warm, lazy summer days. Andersson's gentle vocal approach adds to this atmosphere.
It is less heavy than previous album Aeons, but open-minded psych/stoner fans will find lots here to enjoy. A more restraint approach and excluding a confidence that asks the listener to relax and enjoy the trip. To paraphrase some beat band from Liverpool it begs you to Just close your eyes and float downstream
-Bobo Coen
