Spidergawd- IV (Crispin Glover Records VODU8CGR072)

As the title suggests, this is the 4^th album from the Trondheim based, Spidergawd (there is also a band with this name from Los Angeles).  Bent (Motorpsycho) is not on this album and has been replaced by Hallvard. Is this Love sounds a lot like Monster Magnet during the heavy section (Dopes to Infinity) but the rest of the track is unique and a pretty heavy at times but also pretty commercial in the pop section. Overall, it is pretty intense stuff though. I am the Night starts with drums and bass (great studio production!) and then it gets more and more intense and a great wah guitar solo. Loucille  is a mid paced sort of power rocker. I don’t know why but I get 80s KISS for some reason?? Ballad of a Millionare (Song for Elina) slows things down a bit but the heavy vibe is still there and Per’s powerful vocals are ever present.  Side B starts with the single from the album, What have you Become, a fast paced rocker! The Inevitable starts off with some sax and harmonica and a really cool slow build. It eventually gets quite heavy and is the longest and most musically diverse track on the record. Heaven comes Tomorrow starts with the band going into rock and roll attack mode before, storming off on the cool riff. The record ends with Stranglehold (not the Ted Nugent classic!). It has a heavy Nugent like riff though and rocks… The saxophone plays much less a role on this record than in the past and plays mostly dark tones and not many solos. They have a guest harmonica and pedal steel on one track, which is cool. This band gets more heavy and rocking with each record.

http://spidergawd.no

http://www.crispingloverrecords.com/

FLOORIAN- AT YOUR SURFACE CD (Self Released SKP004)

It has been a few years since I heard a Floorian CD. Jerry at Aural Innovations is a friend and fan of these guys and put us in contact. Although this album came out last year, I felt I needed to tell you about it.  This is the bands 4th record (2004, 2009, 2016) and features 6 tracks of dreamy psychedelic music. The first track has a very eastern feel with the way the organ is played. Quite spacey stuff especially the vocals on this relaxed track.  From on High has a more heavy guitar riff but a slow relaxed pace with again spacey vocals but a catchy chorus (like Wooden Shjips or something).  Good contrasts in this track.  Face is very spaced out and psychedelic.  Icaro features a quite simple guitar line, spacey drone synth and a simple sung vocal (no words).  This really evolves into a very cool song with a far out drone ending. Spinning Time brings back a more melodic stoned rock and roll vibe.  Agra Man closes this album and has a slow spacey fade up with a repeated guitar line and dreamy synth.  The eastern theme and a table like drum appears in this long track. Cool stuff guys..

http://www.floorian.com

Woodland- Go Nowhere (Crispin Glover Records WOOD1CGR071)

Woodland is band from Trondheim, Norway. The five piece band recorded the record back in 2015 but it is finally out now. Tbis is the bands 2^nd record (the first was in 2014). The record features 10 tracks (LP also comes with a CD). The band play pretty straight up rock and roll with a fun vibe, sing along choruses, a bit bluesy at times, maybe even a little country thrown in. Got me Wrong starts things off and reminds me of the Danish band Bite the Bullet’s last record. Dead Set is a really great track with some acoustic track, animated vocals and a bit of piano thrown in. All in my Head is bluesy one with a bit of an effect on the vocal and a raw guitar sound.  The singer is a lot like the guy from Bite the Bullet. Funny. I bet these bands have never heard each other? Wild Eyes is a foot stomping blues track.  Very inspired by the American jam bands for sure.  Luck¨s Gone Bad ends side A with a nice passionately sung piano lead track that could have been recorded by the stoned hippies in Topanga Valley in the early 70s.. Side B starts with Dust Bowl (hear below) a nice bluesy foot stomper with some nice guitar playing. A song for a smokey bar with sawdust on the floor. Set me Free is a bit more hard hitting. I really like the slow stoney vibe of Long Gone and the slow patient vibe, just wish the song was longer. Great song. No Shinning Light has a quite cool hook to it and a whole chorus of backing vocals on this one! The title track closes this really cool record. A lot of great songs.

http://www.crispingloverrecords.com/

Sendelica/Superfjord- Zappa 7” (Fruits de Mer Crustacean 78)

Peaches en Regalia by Superfjord starts things off.  They stick pretty close to the original with adding one new section and all the melodies, etc.. are intact. I enjoyed it. Sendelica, on the other hand, really make this cover of Don’t eat the Yellow Snow, a new track.  A very cool 7”. YOu can hear a sample of both tunes below. Enjoy....

http://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com

Spidergawd- What you have become 7” (Crispin Glover Records VODU9CGR075)

This is the first single from Spidergawd 4. It is limited to 300, I think. Very cool green coloured vinyl and a heat sensitive sleeve that when you warm up the sleeves a new pattern appears. Unique!  What you have become is the first track on side B of the IV record and it reminds me so much of another song (what is that melody???). Anyway, it is a fast paced rocker (with a chorus section that I recognize but can’t place). Powerful singing as well.  The B-side of the 7” is an unreleased track called Starfighter (Going over the top with heavy metal Sprulf). It has a sort of a HM guitar shuffle to it and a blast of saxophone here and there. Great song.

http://www.crispingloverrecords.com/