Founded in Örebro, Sweden, Backwood Spirit has been together since 2014. Formed by guitarist and songwriter Kent Engström they produced my album of the year back in 2017 when they released their debut on Pride & Joy Music.
Almost exactly 4 years later we are finally getting to hear what’s happened since with the release of ‘Fresh From The Can’ a rather ironic title since the length of time between releases! This time around they have a new member on board in Mats Berglund on bass who joins Engström (guitar), drummer Joje Lindskoog, Göran Edman (vocals) and Peter Emilson (organ & keys).
And from the off it hits the spot nicely, with opener ‘Catch Your Fire’ easing us in to a rich Classic Rock driven, Blues-tinged feel good song that can’t help you think of bands like Bad Co. and which sports a nice Allmans style guitar, some wonderful keys and great backing harmonies. Like last time around though it’s that combination of all of the players here along with the sublime vocal of Göran Edman that raises this album way above the composition.
At just nine tracks again the focus is on quality and ‘Rainbow (Full Circle)’ starts so smoothly and with such authority that you’ll think that these guys are doing in 2021 what the Black Crowes did 30 years ago! There’s blues, a little touch of funk and such sweet soulful harmonies you can just close your eyes and drift. This is wonderful stuff and not afraid to drift – there’s a wonderful instrumental breakdown that comes in before the two minute mark that has you beaming a huge smile. This is seriously good stuff and a song where you can feel each instrument in the mix just adding and adding to the whole. Check out that rhythm section! Check out those guitar and keyboard riffs!
By track three I’m already sold, but ‘Celebration’ gives us a touch or early Free as it creeps and crawls languidly before shifting its stance and falling back and turning aside, there’s so many dynamics at play here you’ll love the ride and soon be singing along. At seven and a half minutes long it’s not even the longest track here on an album where there are only two tracks under five minutes.
‘Sweet in the Evening (Lullaby)’ takes things right down with a wonderful vocal and a sublime guitar tone. It’s a song that just surrounds you and all you need to do is close you eyes, open your ears and drift away. It’s wonderful stuff. ‘Witchwood’ which follows adds woodland sounds, tribal drums and a searing guitar before settling into a bluesy groove; whilst ‘Leavin”, the shortest track here gets straight to the point delivering a deep groove and an authentic Bad Co, feel.
The quality doesn’t dip for a second as ‘On Through the Night’ leads the ride home with its laid back harp and drum opening, like a marvelously languid slow stroll through a new world that become more intense as the guitar kicks in; and by the time the assured stomp and sweet melodies of ‘Something about You’ comes around with its drum driven groove you realise that this journey is almost about to end.
Album closer ‘Mayflower’ is an epic at almost eight minutes in length and its the cream of the crop here for me, packing as much drama and movement into a single song as most albums manage. It starts with gentle keys and an almost Folk style before the vocal kicks in and the tempo grows, again augmented by silky smooth backing melodies. Its a song not afraid to push the boundaries and one that sees Edman at his best. Its a gloriously hopefully song and we all need that. I love this record just as much as I did the debut and that’s as high praise as I can give.
‘Fresh From The Can’ was record at Zone 17 and produced by Kent Engström, Joje Lindskoog and Kari Malm. Engineered and mixed by Kari Malm. Mastered at Nevo Mastering. Cover art by Jerry Eriksson.
This one is pretty much essential!
9/10
