Whilst in the midst of the Scandinavian Soul Music Awards preparations, we received an email from a Stockholm-based band, who had somehow slipped through our music radar. Regular readers will know that this sadly can happen from time-to-time, despite my best soul searching efforts.
The band’s name hinted to the musical direction we could expect; however, it’s all about the sound. Eddie & the Lovemakers’ self-titled debut EP was released in 2014 and proves, once again, soul music in Scandinavia is very much alive, and it’s going from strength to strength.
Based in Stockholm, Eddie & the Lovemakers’ ambition is to take soul music from the ’60s & ’70s and combine it with contemporary influences, resulting in a timeless sound. This clearly comes across in the opening track, ‘Good Times’, with its sweet horns, Hammond organ, and an arrangement Daptone Records would be proud of. It’s a sumptuous track and the smoky, late-night, emotional pleas continue with ‘I See the World’. This simply superb track contains all the fears and worries we have for the future, as 2016 continues to be a year of ever-increasing hate, racism, and division.
But, how the hell did an EP this good slip through our net?
As proof of their musical authenticity, the entire debut EP was recorded in a classic way, on an 8-channel recorder. This gives the tracks that warm analogue sound, now being re-discovered by vinyl lovers. All songs are written by Eddie Hultén, and a full salute should be given to him, as the tracks continue to be expressed with genuine soulful truth.
There’s no mistaking this shit is for real.
I’ve listened to the track ‘Afraid’ the most, but to be honest, I’ve left the whole EP on repeat for the past 3 days!
“We have a love of the roots of Deep soul/groove,” Eddie & the Lovemakers told us, “and we try to create a sound we can’t seem to find much of elsewhere in the Swedish music scene, original songs in an old school way.”
Ladies and gentlemen, they succeeded.
If you’ve enjoyed bands like The Magnolia, D/troit, and the Northern Lights, then you should press play on their EP, ‘Eddie & the Lovemakers’ released in 2014, without hesitation.
Eddie & the Lovemakers are recording a new album, which will hopefully be ready in summer 2016.
I plan to be a proud owner of their Limited Edition CD soon, and believe me, if their new album is released on Vinyl, I will snap that baby up too!
The Review
Looking for some soul from Scandinavia, then press play on their EP, ‘Eddie & the Lovemakers’ released in 2014, without hesitation.
Review Breakdown
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