Jet Set Sweden

Jet Set Sweden is a retro groove crew that either didn't get the memo that lounge culture has fallen out of fashion (or it simply hasn't in Sweden) or they are determined to do what they like regardless of mainstream tastes. In any case, From Sweden to You features excellent musicianship, tight arrangments and a plethora of familiar themes. Any CD that starts with a Latin-esque "Star Trek" and ends with a rockin' "Police Woman" deserves a listen, right? Absolutely.

Jet Set Sweden appears to be Scandinavia's answer to Morricone Youth (before that New York band turned its attention to original compositions). Among the covers on From Sweden to You are Francis Lai's "A Man and a Woman," Lalo Schifrin's "The Man from THRUSH" and "Danube Incident." Not all are TV/movie themes. The band also covers Sid Ramin's "Music to Watch Girls By" Esquivel's "Mini Skirt" and The Monkees' "I'm a Believer."

Certainly the centerpiece of the disc is the four-part crime theme suite, which includes music from Our Man Flint, Come Spy With Me, Secret Agent, The Man from UNCLE, The Ipcress File, Lady in Cement, I Spy, Checkmate, The Fugitive, The Girl from UNCLE, The Avengers, Peter Gunn and The Persuaders. The suite alone is worth the price of admission.

Jet Set Sweden is Martin Persson on Hammond B-300, accordian and piano; Jerker Eklund on guitars; Mats Deltin on bass guitar; and Ola Bothzen on drums and percussion.