Norrland-based Southern-style rockers The Crystal Caravan will release their sophomore album "Against the rising tide" on October 28 via , a very suitable home for the band. Hear a sample tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/crystalcaravan
Umeå rockers The Crystal Caravan are heading to Germany in February:
02/04 - Schaubude, Kiel (GER)
02/05 - Rock A Go Go Club @ JAZ, Rostock (GER)
02/06 - Ilvers, Erfurt (GER)
02/07 - Struwwelpeters, Kronach (GER)
02/08 - Subway To Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
02/10 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg (GER)
02/12 - Belle Epoque, Siegen (GER)
02/13 - JuKuz, Aschaffenburg (GER)
02/20 - White Trash, Berlin (GER)
I can't say for sure if The Crystal Caravan always have sounded the way they do, but it seems to me that Dennis Lyxzén's production fingerprints are all over their debut full-length. Chicken or the egg, either way it's got some serious The (International) Noise Conspiracy boogie vibes, but instead of channeling The Nation of Ulysses, The Crystal Caravan draws more from The Allman Brothers or Eric Burdon and other Southern soul-inspired rock'n'roll. Same sweet keyboard tones, same shambly groove, different retro vibe. Aiming for the revival tent, not the garage. And mercifully, no tired sloganeering. I know Dennis' heart is in the right place, but so much of that stuff feels like climbing a mountain of sand. "Tombstone eyes" is easily the most driving tune off the album; it's a bit too well-oiled for my tastes, but I do dig those organ breaks and I'm sure it goes down much rougher live. Or at least that's what I've been led to believe; apparently vocalist Niklas "RG" Gustafsson has quite the reputation...?
The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. The Late Call - Put your lights on
02. TALK 1
03. Fever Ray - When I grow up (Håkan Lidbo remix)
04. Maskinen - Alla som inte dansar
05. Isolation Years - Albino child
06. TALK 2
07. Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out
08. Unleashed - Dead forever
09. Lack - Soot, smoke & ash
10. TALK 3
11. Small - Comic girl
12. Peter Bjorn and John - It don't move me
13. Masquer - I think I'll lose my mind
14. Ironville - Roses
15. TALK 4
16. Parasite - Nightwinds
17. Aerial - Kallisti
18. The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
19. TALK 5
20. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Umeå-based retro-rockers The Crystal Caravan have confirmed that their long-awaited self-titled debut album will be released on April 3 via recently resurrected local label Garageland Records. And keeping it local, the record was produced by Dennis Lyxzén (The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Refused) and mixed/mastered by Pelle Henricsson (too many credits to mention) at Tonteknik. There will be a record release show that night at Scharinska Villan and Dennis will DJ in addition to a full-band performance.
And speaking of Scharinska and Garageland, I understand that the record store is moving to the basement of the Pink House and will be operating with extended evening hours in an attempt to drum up more business. Best of luck to them -- it's tough times out there for retailers.
Listen to a brand new track from Umeå act The Crystal Caravan: http://www.myspace.com/crystalcaravan
The band's new Dennis Lyxzén-produced album is due to be released this coming spring.