Acid’s Trip

Strings Of Soul

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Versatile Swedes stylishly plunder the past.

Given the band’s name and the woozy overture that begins this, their debut album, you could be forgiven for expecting Strings Of Soul to be a wild, psychedelic freak-out. In reality, Acid’s Trip are a much more conventional beast, albeit one that sounds like an inspired blend of Jefferson Airplane and The Hellacopters.

These retro-rock escapades always stand or fall on the strength of the songs involved, and this Gothenburg quartet have several genuinely brilliant ones here. The title track is a fizzing rush of proggy guitar hooks and revved-up soul; No More Fucks and Faster, Chopper, Boogie are as snotty and wired as their titles suggests; Creature Of The Lagoon offers a preppy, new-wave take on the spookedout occult rock. It’s all executed with maximum exuberance, and reaches a pleasingly stirring, soulful peak on the closing Hell Or High Water, a sublime showcase for co-lead guitarist Acid’s charismatic vocals. ■■■■■■■■■■