Album Notes

Second album by Canada's Current Swell, recorded at the Audio Garage in Victoria BC. For full bio see www.currentswell.com

Reviewed by Monday Magazine Victoria:

Current Swell
By —Amanda Farrell

Jun 13 2007

Trust Us Now
(independent)

I'm surprised local rockers Current Swell managed to find time to record a new album—whether they're opening for acts like the Beautiful Girls or headlining their own tour across Canada and Australia, these guys always seem to be on the road. But when you pop their second record, Trust Us Now, into the CD player, it definitely doesn't feel like it was a rushed affair. The playing is solid, with everything from slide guitar, harmonica, and the Hammond organ making an appearance. While the album can definitely be described as "surf culture influenced", it's no carbon copy of any one sound. Elements of blues ("O.D. II"), country ("Comin Home"), reggae ("How Will They Trust Us Now") and ska ("Reap What You Sow") weave through the record, and there's a lot of variation from song to song. It might be easy to dismiss these guys as simply a fun party band fans of Xavier Rudd and Sublime would groove to after a day on the waves, but Trust Us Now proves Current Swell is more than that.


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Trust Us Now
by Current Swell

written by
Sebastian Troen
mediaWEST
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2388759296

I remember where I first heard a Jack Johnson song. It was on a beach in Thailand, walking to dinner as we passed a beach bar with Jack playing in the background. My friend literally dragged us in for a drink to listen. To this day I think of sunny days, sand beneath my toes and chillin’ on a beach whenever I hear Jack. After listening to Current Swell’s second album ‘Trust Us Now’ it could just as easily have been this album that I heard on that sunny beach.

Often compared to Ben Folds, Jack Johnson and Sublime the boys from Victoria do stray into familiar territory from time to time though more as homage, and throughout there’s a unique sound that is Current Swell’s own. Mixing blues, folk, reggae and rock like veteran musicians, these lads, who look like they should be delivering newspapers after work, not doing world tours, sound mature beyond their years. Throw in serious musical chops including slide guitar and dirty harmonica and a beautiful organ and you get a plethora of musical styles fused together by the bands tight harmonies and a fun groove.

“Trust Us Now” sounds more polished than their first effort though you still get the feeling this is 4 guys in a garage kicking back after a day on the water to jam and have fun. “Chesterman’s Valley”, “Comin Home”, “Reap What You Sow” and “Five White Boys” lay down a solid groove that will quickly establish these guys as festival favourites. The band’s own personal favourite “How Will They Trust Us Now” is the album’s most ambitious song with a harder edge to it.

The guys from Current Swell claim they’re singing the “devil’s music” and their dirty harmonica, slide guitar-filled reggae-influenced surf rock backs that claim up. Next time the sun is out you can bet “Trust Us Now” is going to be cranked in my Jeep on my way to the beach. Check out the album on iTunes or even better, throw on your favourite flip-flops and check them out as they tour Canada starting in July. I guarantee a good time, mon!