From the very first track, I knew I was in for a treat. It’s got that sort of big, zoomy sound that makes you want to leap onto a moving car and shout encouraging things at people doing stunts. You can really feel the drums in your knees, and the guitars are doing that lovely thing where they sound like they’re about to burst into flames, but in a polite and very Swedish way.
And the SINGING! I don’t know who taught this man to do that with his voice, but I hope they got a medal and a chocolate orange. He hits notes that made my ears go all fizzy—like pop rocks in a glass of lemonade—and then he swoops down into the sort of growly bits that make you want to phone your mum to say, “Hi, love you, everything’s fine, but I’ve just heard something AMAZING.”
There’s this one song—I think it’s called “What Are We Looking For” or possibly “Strangers” or maybe “Please Mind the Gap” (No, hang on, that might’ve been something else)—but anyway, it really goes for it. Just when you think it’s finished being brilliant, it pops back up with a solo that made me throw a cushion across the room in celebration. The cat didn’t like that, but sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of ROCK.
There’s this one with a keyboard bit that sounds like lasers doing jazz hands. I didn’t even know I needed that in my life, but I did. Ten out of ten.
The whole album is like being invited to a very loud party on a spaceship piloted by Bon Jovi, and everyone’s wearing leather trousers but no one’s being weird about it. It’s proper melodic rock, but not in a “Dad’s had two lagers and wants to talk about Boston” kind of way—more, “Let’s build a time machine and high-five 1986” sort of thing.
In conclusion: if this album were a dessert, it would be a triple-layer cake filled with fire and determination and probably some kind of highly flammable jam. I loved it. I played it three times in a row and then accidentally saluted my stereo. Honestly, I haven’t been this excited since I discovered you can fry cheese.
So yes—Roulette’s "Go!" is spiffing. Loud, shiny, and extremely good at making you feel like your hair is longer than it is. I give it seven guitars, a drum kit, and a massive Swedish flag made entirely out of joy. [Editor: Is that out of 10 Matt or out of a Keenan & Kel outro?] GO get it! (See what I did there? Because of the name? Oh well. I'll see myself out.)
Words: Matt Denny
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