Syreregn

OCD

Written by: TL on 11/02/2010 23:24:08

Usually, the policy here at Rockfreaks.net is that, whenever we get handed promotional releases by personal friends of ours, we hand them over to another writer for a more objective review. That then, would normally be the procedure for a disc like "OCD", from Syreregn (means Acid Rain in Danish) - since lead singer/bassist Thor Boding is an old school buddy of mine. Problem is, this band sings mostly in Danish (four of seven songs, one instrumental) and play very, very retro, psychedelic 60's rock, and apart from me, our only Danish writer is AB, and all he ever listens to is death metal, and I don't think that makes him suited well for reviewing this kind of music - In truth, does any of us, used to surfing the current of the newest stuff, really have what it takes to appreciate something this oldschool?

In the end, I've thrown credibility aside and given the album a shot, half expecting to be unimpressed with it, not due to lack of faith in my friend, rather because something that purposefully tries to sound old is bound to be a tad boring, right? Wrong! Syreregn are, as I've come to realize after a handful of listens only, not at all bad. Obviously, you have to get used to the fact that they try hard as hell to sound like they're all forty years older than is the case, and that the quality of their recording (maybe purposefully, maybe due to lack of resources) isn't exactly slick and shiny, but that really doesn't matter, because their songs actually swing and are pretty catchy.

On the disc you will find first a lengthy, rather pretentious instrumental intro, that does however sound like something you'd expect from a band called "Acid Rain" - Still though, I'm not impressed yet, because despite the wailing guitar, I can't wrestle my mind from the starts-out-hypnotic-soon-becomes-monotonous bass line that's maintained for the majority of the track. Can I have some vocals to wake me up? Yes I can, as Boding croons with a bluesy voice, words that stick quite well to the mind and are loaded with more attitude and rock'n'roll effects than I would've thought the old redneck (it's all love mate ;D) capable of. A good start, but far from as good as the disc's highlight "Mirror Mirror", the first track in English that comes in with an awesome wailing mini solo, then creeps up on you with a groovy bass and gets you rocking along when the chorus comes along. Mando Diao fans, you guys would love this one. From then on out, I actually surrender to Syreregn's charms, finding it to be perfectly awesome music to kick back to while enjoying a beer after a long and busy day. Another highlights on the disc is "En Sandhed", which is somewhat more poppy and bright (think The Who) than the otherwise rather bluesy stuff.

Of course, being a young band, there are things here that could be done better. One could look in vain for an identity in this band, apart from being ones to show their love for the sixties through musical tribute, and I for one am not a big fan of the vocals on the sixth track "Sol Over Reykjavik", as they sound a bit too forced compared to Boding's otherwise rather carefree delivery, which is a shame because the song is otherwise quite good. Then there's also the question if these songs really all need to be as long as they are, with plenty of time given to those classic psychedelic solo sections, but overall, I'm very positively surprised, because the key thing here is that the songs are actually good enough to cross genre-differences and catch on with relative ease. How rare is that?

7

Download: Mirror Mirror, En Sandhed
For The Fans Of: The Doors, Mando Diao, The Who
Listen: myspace.com/syreregn

Release Date 30.10.2010
Jawbreaker Productions

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