Spiders: Sharp Objects
This is an album that seems to have been recorded with one purpose, to entertain. I’m pleased to say it fulfils that function very well indeed.
These Swedes certainly aren’t afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves. Indeed their bio makes a virtue of them. Well, better that than pretending that this lovely racket comes just from yourself! Having previously covered Hanging On The Telephone, early Blondie is the the most obvious touchstone here, with lead singer Ann-Sofie Hoyles delivering an excellent take on Debbie Harry’s New York sneer while remaining very much her own woman.
The album has a touch of Mike Chapman’s polished production values about it but it’s less determinedly “new” than Parallel Lines and more unabashedly rock and roll. Think how a less ramshackle New York Dolls might have sounded.
Actually, I might have preferred a slightly rawer approach. There are times when I wished they’d really cut loose just to see if the wheels come off. Mind you, that’s maybe what live performances are for.
Their bio cites four players in the band but I hope they stick in a second guitarist to accompany John Hoyles for live work because the guitars are a real strength throughout the album. We don’t get twin leads but if not they’re not twins, they’re certainly close kin and the way they play off each other is an old school delight. They’re no slouches in the rhythm department either with the delightfully named Olle Griphammar giving us bass lines that easily carry things when required. Drummer Ricard Harryson is at the heart of proceedings and drives the band along with great gusto. On Sweet Boy he has fun delivering a drum break that’s been with us since the days of the Shangri Las.
One of the most endearing things going on here is that we’re getting songs that are proper songs, not just extended two minute hooks for tiktok. Don’t get me wrong there are hooks aplenty but we get verses, choruses, bridges and solos as well.
Considering none of the 11 tracks even approaches the four minute mark, the band do really well to squeeze in all the deft touches they do. Most of the songs have something to grab you but high points for me are the aforementioned Sweet Boy, the insanely catchy What’s Your Name (Miss Insane) with its non Jovi key change. Fun In The Sun had me reaching for the Ray-Bans and the heat is on when things get downright sleazy on Schzoid with its Villa Nellcôte vibe. We’re left on a high with probably the most ambitious track here, Would You Miss Me? This one has a feel of Arthur Lee’s Love or The Bangles take on Hazy Shade of Winter. There are a lot of moving parts to this and the way they mesh together raised the hairs on my arms.
This album won’t change your life but it will change your evening and for the better.
Mike Bruce | Now Spinning Magazine
