GIN LADY

Gin Lady are a 'new' band. Well, kind of. They're new by moniker only as their personnel is identical to that of Black Bonzo except for Fredrik Normark on drums instead of Mikael Israelsson. Black Bonzo are one of those acts who escaped my listening attention so I guess I have to believe press blurb that these Swedes have indeed left "some of the progressive elements behind, and heading towards a more classic rock sound." Seems to me, inherent in that statement, they've opted for a more generic direction, favouring pastiche rather than progression which is a shame as innovation in music instantly gives it more credibility and integrity in my perception. However, far be it from me to judge an album for something it's not trying to be so if "classic rock" is what Gin Lady claim to be then it is on this I shall base my critique. And based on this, their eponymously titled debut, they do classic rock amazingly well with a production and compositional style that oozes retro. In fact, it oozes retro so much so with an emphatically authentic seventies sound that you could be forgiven for thinking you're listening to an undiscovered band from said era rather than a new, twenty first century musical venture. Frontman Magnus Kärnebro's vocals are so apposite for the music over which he sings with that smoothly expressive, occasionally edgy seventies tonality associated with the likes of Eric Bloom, Phil Mogg et al. Hammond organ, piano and mellotron courtesy of Klas Holmgren helps cement Gin Lady's overt classic rock vibe and, likewise, guitar dynamics, rhythm and lead, pertain to seventies' idioms. If I were basing my overall judgegment of this release solely on these Swedes' aptitude for replicating music from a bygone decade but within the context of some (kind of) original compositions, then I'd score them higher than I have. Stylistically mimicry aside, I have to question the enduring appeal of Gin Lady's approach for, after a few spins, I'm sure it won't be long before people revert back to the original seventies guys that have been pastiched here (albeit, as already said, pastiched with an admirable authenticity). Very enjoyable for what it is though...for now.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Transubstans Records

Album

GIN LADY

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

42:53

RELEASE DATE:

25th June 2012

TRACK LISTING

1) Rebirth
2) Get It On (Saturday)
3) Lend Me A Hand
4) Deja Vu
5) The Rest
6) Bloodsuckin’ Babies
7) Bottom Of The Sea
8) Confrontation Shakedown
9) Hold On

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...oozes retro so much so with an emphatically authentic seventies sound that you could be forgiven for thinking you're listening to an undiscovered band from said era rather than a new, twenty first century musical venture."