Bootcut - Hammond vs Drums (2002)

Two people. A couple of tools. Ten tracks. And a sea of positivity!
Bootcut is the “bastard” child of the restless Rickard Sjöblum (Beardfish, Gungfly, solo). Although it is still a question which of the projects was born first. After all, the disc we are discussing was recorded in March 2002, a year before the release of Beardfish’s debut album. But God bless him, with his birthright. Let's not deviate from the main point. So, Bootcut. Composition: Sjöblum (Hammond B3 organ) + Petter Diamant (drums). Concept? Come on, come on! Who needs it? “Light up” and “break away” are the key verbs for understanding the situation. But really, what else can you expect from the ultimate “Hammond vs Drums” formula? You won’t find any serious, progressively concerned lamentations on social issues here during the day. Fantasy and other fairy tales - aside! And in general, if you want to fill your brain with monumental calculations, go to the library. Or to the conservatory. Because Bootcut is a fast time machine that can take the listener to a retro party from the sixties in the blink of an eye. Do you love Booker T. & The MGs, The Doors, cocktails and James Bond? Then you've come to exactly the right place!
Amazingly, the limitations in expressive means did not affect the result at all. On the contrary, it gave the duo the opportunity to demonstrate virtuoso skill and remarkable invention. Artistry, thoroughness of sound texture, tenacity of melodic phrases. You press 'play', close your eyes and... "Jet-Set-Go!" Swing, drive, groove... "Hammond" is an all-powerful unit, a brilliant invention of mankind. His richly colorful baritone penetrates every cell. Are you smiling? Yeah! It's only the beginning! After the hot opening piece - a drop of northern melancholy. "Viraniah" is a kind of tribute to the iconic Swedish organist Merit Hemmingson. Dedication to the queen of jazz-folk art from incredibly talented students. Well, then you can start a light adventure, the scent of which is powdered in the Cocktail Lounge room. (Here you can’t help but remember David Holmes’s “vintage” stylizations for numerous “Ocean’s Friends”.) The plot of the extravagant “Secret Mission: Arabia” can most easily be described as follows: Henry Mancini is practicing his Bond. However, it doesn’t explain a damn thing... The energetic kicker “Escape” infects with a choleric mood; a kind of mind-blowing eine kleine rhythm 'n' blues, leaving no trace of everyday boredom. "Høst" is an amazing jazz waltz. An idyll of lovers gliding in the semi-darkness of the dance floor. The conversation seems to be about nothing. And - a sudden climax, a dazzling explosion of feelings. Passion in its purest form, all-consuming and unforgettable... The “delicious” beat-etude “Orange” is latently associated with the work of the Dutch Shocking Blue, while “Spain for Sale” emanates proto-hard with nods to Jon Lord. "Diamond" bathes you in the motivic waves of sweeping Nordic rock with a blues base. And - voila! - final sketch "Phase Down"; a thickly peppered, vigorous electric jam that turns into a total “satisfaction” for any Hammond maniac.
To summarize: 44 minutes of absolutely childish delight. A delightful program, highly recommended to every nostalgist for repeated play during leisure hours.