Review Summary: When tags like "vintage rock" don't matter.
When describing bands like Heavy Feather, we tend to throw the term "vintage rock" a lot, and for good reason, since the majority of those acts usually produce something that has been done several times in the past. Borderline ripping off isn't out of the question either, even though this is not a dealbreaker to the writer of this review, provided that the songwriting is solid and engaging enough. However, every once in a blue moon, albums like
Mountain of Sugar appear out of the blue and render terms like "vintage rock" useless. You may wonder why, and the answer is simply because if the Stockholm quartet had released its sophomore effort some 50 years ago, with some luck (and a time machine), today it could be considered a hidden gem.
Mountain of Sugar is a great slab of psychedelic and blues rock that will bring to your mind legendary acts like Free, Cream, and Jefferson Airplane, with some hints from The Allman Brothers. One thing that will instantly grab your attention from the very first seconds of the LP is Lisa Lystam's powerful vocals. What makes her so special is that her voice is memorable and, most of all, oozes character; just listen to the chorus of "Bright in My Mind". Other than that, the production is very fuzzy and suits the band's sound perfectly; the guitar, for example, sounds dry and warm, like on your favorite obscure '70s records. At the end of the day,
Mountain of Sugar will be a treat for anyone who remotely enjoys psychedelic bluesy rock, and all those who wished Blues Pills had released another album like their debut.
