Doctors and Dealers Trouble EP review

When most of us think of Sweden, we think of Abba, Ace of Base, another bunch of pop groups and last but not least the Scandinavian death metal scene. There is an endless list of bands hailing from Scandinavia who are involved in death metal. If you’re not into such scene, unlike in the rest of the world, you are the outsider and not vice versa. Being from central Europe, we tend not to be exposed of what is happening in Scandinavia. Yes they are Europeans, but maybe because of the media, we don’t hear much from our European counterparts. Could it be because unlike in central Europe, there are enough people buying records instead of downloading MP3′s?

Lately I’ve been in touch with a Swedish band called Doctors and Dealers. Are they the alternatives of Sweden’s music scene? Most probably compared to the main stream they are the weirdoes, because they are not listed in the endless list of death metal bands, sledges, hammers, Vikings and blood. I find it a little difficult to translate their tattered music. Listening to them is like falling down in an infinite spiral of theatrical music and strange colours and shapes, something like Alice in Wonderland. Or even better, listening to this amazing Trouble EP is like being in a drunken and happy state, running through meadows of bright coloured flowers with butterflies in the sky. Well you don’t actually get there by just getting drunk! You need the music.

A mix of Jazz, eerie and gypsy-esque music is Doctors and Dealers music style, according to Sparrow, Doctors and Dealers vocalist. Gypsy? Yes she is right. You have to listen to this new Trouble EP to know what she means exactly. It’s like diving in a trifle. You’ll never know how it will be unless you’ve been there, done that. Twelve string guitars, tuba, violins, classic piano and enchanting vocals singing cynical lyrics make this extended play quite unique. Where would you ever hear lyrics like “trouble you are my oldest friend, can’t you come back to me again? I miss the days when you forced me to tears.” Their recording is also well produced and sharp, and the mixing is perfect. There are no gazillions of instruments fighting each other to be heard. Well done to Sparrow, Gordon and Doctors and Dealers’ long-time collaborator Andres Lager who achieved this just by themselves. They didn’t hire any session musicians for this recording, but they opted to do all the recordings themselves.

Trouble EP is just a wishful taste of Doctors and Dealers third and upcoming full studio album Every Sinner has a Future, which is to be released in spring 2011. Doctors & Dealers official website: http://www.doctorsanddealers.com.