The Burdens – The Burdens

Gothenburg band The Burdens have taken a trip into the archives and returned with a suitcase full of vintage soul.

The Swedish bands sound is inspired predominately from the Northern soul scene made famous in English Midlands in the late 1960s and encapsulated in the British mod scene. The seven members faithfully represent the era musically and visually, including the bands’ album cover which could hang fittingly in any retro clothes or record store.

And pure nostalgic soul is the content from ballads for couples to crowd-pleasing dance grooves – The Burdens have it all.

Sand covered dancefloors will find feet twisting and shuffling to the beat-heavy and fast tempo of tracks as; Kissin’ and Hugging, and my personal favourite Tears. The catchy chorus / Baby, your tears won’t wash away / will have you harmonising in unison no matter what moves you are making.

And if singing while you sway delights, then the soul single – Yes I Know is irresistible. Also highly notable is the romantic Sad Brown Eyes. Despite it being the album opener, this is my evening’s slow dance suggestion.

Their songs of loves complexities are tracks in gratifying listening lengths allowing breaks between chorus and verse for delightful improvising sax or keys solos.

The lead vocals by Anna Ekholm, which sound captured through a ’30s microphone, has a commanding vocal presence. Her vocal intensity, in particular on the ballads, is almost overwhelming as on – In My Dark Mind or Wicked Will. Conversely, it’s her vocal strength that makes her and The Burdens so arresting.

The Burdens are a band whose attention to detail conveys authenticity with tight musicianship and strong songwriting. Soul music revived and staying alive in the south-west of Sweden for the 21st century and beyond. They were right to ‘Keep the Faith’ as Mods would say.