Charlotte Says

Out of the studio and back from mixing in New York, Stellan Wahlström Drift Band’s new album “Across the room” is now out on Belpid Records.

The recording was made the old-fashioned way on to 2"-tape by Christian Gabel at Cobra Studio in Stockholm, and mixed in Brooklyn, NY by Patrick A Derivaz (who has previously worked with Television, Luna and John Cale).

Here the band has taken their music deeper into their own brand of urban folk rock – the cracked tones of Telecasters meet with lots of piano, organ, acoustic guitars, violin and an electric Hagström 12-string in the warm analogue recording.

The lyrics deal with diverse topics and stories such as a couple drinking wine in a department store in Berlin, a quiet reflection on a Good Friday, and a man getting off his job at the crematorium.

Stellan Wahlström used to be in The Wylde Mammoths, touring Europe and the US and releasing records on the legendary Crypt Records label, and after that spent several years playing music in New York.

The US magazine The Big Takeover described Stellan Wahlström Drift Band like this:

"A very strong band performing some amazing music. Wahlström is a songwriter of the Townes Van Zandt/Bob Dylan school – not that his work sounds anything like either of those artists, but he has the same confidence in his storytelling. A more sophisticated take on a cross between post-Velvets and alt-country with a very clean almost
jazz-like ambience".

"Charlotte says" was released as the first single and the new radio track is "Never look a woman in the eyes".

The album has been played by over 90 US college radio stations during the winter,
and Stellan Wahlström did a gig at Lakeside Lounge in New York with a band of local musicians in November.
For some live clips from that go to: www.myspace.com/stellanwahlstrom


PRESS:

"I have to admit I'm a sucker for heartfelt tunes like these as long as the
songwriting is good and it is played with passion, like these songs are."
- Dagger Zine (USA)


"This album definitely deserves recognition. Alt-country and Velvet Underground in a perfect symbiosis.
The fine ringing guitars make a notable impression. More than anything there is a sincerity in Stellan Wahlström's
voice which makes the words he's singing meaningful and enhances the music."
- Östran (Sweden)

"They elegantly hang around Lou Reed as confidently as when they occasionally sneak into some Americana.
And Stellan Wahlström's lyrics on top of great songs like "Burn baby burn" and "Never look a woman in the eyes"
can definitely be enjoyed."
- Oskarshamns Tidning (Sweden)

"Across the room" is an excellent album, the first single "Charlotte says" is a true gem. There are a couple of piano
songs on this brilliant album where "Burn baby burn", "What are you made of?" and the very passionate and tender
highlight "Don't go", stand out."
- Roots-time (Belgium)

"8 / 10"
- Side-line (Belgium)