Emil & the Ecstatics self-titled debut (SCANACD 8548) puts them right up
there with the best of them (Scandinavian or otherwise). The opener (”On My
Feet Again”) hooks you in with its cracking combination of organ, guitar
and great vocals all underpinned by a very tight rhythm section. Once you
are hooked, the combination of highly listenable and danceable tunes (all
originals) keeps you there for the ride through to the intriguingly titled
instrumental closer, ”Freddie Deaddie”. The combination of the band’s retro
sound with frontman Emil Arvidsson’s contemporary tunes knocks the spots
off many of today’s so-called blues bands. Easily one of the top 10 blues
albums of 2004.
Rating: 9 – Gordon Baxter
www.ecstatics.se