The Blue Van
The Art of Rolling

The Blue Van at first glance might seem, at least from the cover, like one of those sixties revival bands that have emerged in recent years, the latest being the Jet. However, unlike the Jet, these 4 Danes have a clear vision: to become a rock band worthy of note without frills, simply by offering good music. The Blue Van don't have any licenses from Iggy Pop, nor do they have any big chart pretensions.

The Art of Rolling is a true sixties record, rough, noisy, and magical in evoking the typical sounds of the '60s and '70s; here you won't find big chart-topping hits, just simple rock'n'roll as it was in the days of the Doors or Who. In fact, it is especially in Pete Townshend's band that I found more similarities, starting with the singer's voice, less powerful but with a vaguely familiar timbre, and in some solos.

Let's move on to the album, the first track "Word From The Bird" is quite an entertaining piece, perhaps the best from this point of view, with the right vibe typical of the '70s, while the second and third tracks turn out to be vaguely psychedelic, not many guitars and more room for the piano and with an almost laid-back attitude (but not uninteresting for this reason) from the whole band. From the fourth to the sixth track, there is almost a change with 2 rock pieces and a vaguely Zeppelin-esque ballad, truly a wonderful ballad by the way! The seventh track "The Bluverture" is practically a two-minute instrumental "intro," worthy of the great Morricone, also of good level. "Revelation Of Love" is the single, and to be honest, it doesn't seem like it, it is perhaps the piece I could appreciate the least, it sounds like the Beach Boys and it threw me off somewhat... "Mob Rule," track 9, is another almost rockabilly piece in the style of Hormonauts with Elvis-style singing, it's great fun without tiring! The last three tracks pick up a bit of the rockabilly mixed Zeppelin thread, which is really very interesting.

An album aimed at all those people who are looking for a record that can truly revive the years of great rock with a bit of psychedelia, in an original and unpolished way. 12 tracks for 40 minutes of good music, far from MTV and the false myths that modern commercial rock often proposes.