To deal with Fusion isn't so easy for many fans, because this specific musical genre is made of rich instrumental songs (and no vocals at all), so there's nothing to 'hold on', is just like an amazing jump into a deep new world of possibilities. Obviously there are many bands that really bores the patience of the fans with the self-indulgence, but some are really amazing as the North American quartet CRAZY SWEDES, as can be heard on "Crazy Swedes", their first album.

The band focus its creative efforts on a form of Fusion Rock with many influences of Jazz, Funk, Blues and others, always with an groove that's hard to resist to. It's obvious that the technical work of each musical instrument is amazing (remember: their musical work is solely based on instrumental songs, and in some moments, an 80's feeling is clear. For fans of artists as Allan Holdsworth, Jaco Pastorius, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, Stanley Clarke, Frank Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty and others in such way, "Crazy Swedes" will be easy to deal and a pleasure to hear. Honestly, anyone with good musical taste will love this album for sure. The album was recorded at North Albany Studios, and was produced by Will Severin and Chris Theis (who did the recordings, mixing and mastering as well), the sonority is clean, defined and elegant, as the albums of the genre must sound. And the instrumental tunes chose are really amazing. It's perfect, just this word is enough to describe the sound quality. And the band has an especial guest: Dylan Canterbury playing trumpet on "What's On Tap".

It's a sin to say that any song can be left out of the first time on this album. But for the lazy ones, the better set to begin with is "Key Lime" (excellent keyboards orchestrations, with a Jazz-like feeling filled with bass guitar arrangements), "Flight #4" and "Big Trouble" (both are Progressive/Fusion songs with an ethereal and experimental focus, with a great work of drums and keyboards, in a Jazz trench), "What's on Tap" (it's obvious the Funk/Jazz groove feeling of this one, with chaotic arrangements, but always with excellent melodies, enriched by trumpets presence), "Wavelength" (a refreshing moment with excellent guitar solos and arrangements, contrasting with the technical groove of bass guitar), "It's Now or Never" (the 'noir' intimate ambience of the song makes its accessibility great, with its rich arrangements), "Southern Fried" (as the title says, there's a Southern music influence that can be felt due the groove), "Distant Shores" (a deeper and tenderly melodic moment, with focus on guitars and keyboards, and what lovely Progressive Rock ambience), and the live shots for "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" (the only song with vocals, and as everyone knows, it's a PINK FLOYD old success) and "Stratus". But the others are excellent as well, so try to hear the entire album.

It's surprising to hear an album in such a genre today (because it's no more in evidence as it was in the late 70's and 80's), but as good music knows no time, hear to "Crazy Swedes" and enjoy what CRAZY SWEDES offers to you.