The new Emil Jensen single "Allt jag gillar upphör" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/emiljensen
Hear (and purchase) the b-side version as done by Billie the Vision & the Dancers at Klicktrack: http://www.klicktrack.com/klicktrack/releases/emil-jensen/allt-jag-gillar-upphor/2
Updated dates for Billie the Vision & the Dancers supporting The Pipettes in the UK:
10/17 - Proud Galleries, London
10/24 - The Royal, Derby
10/25 - The Cooler, Bristol
10/26 - Academy, Oxford
10/27 - The Marquee, Hertford
10/25 - The Tower, Winchester
10/29 - The Soul Tree, Cambridge
10/30 - The Charlotte, Leicester
10/31 - Inside Out, Darlington
Billie the Vision & the Dancers will be supporting The Pipettes on tour in the UK:
10/23 - The Cokpit, Leeds
10/24 - The Royal, Derby
10/25 - The Cooler, Bristol
10/26 - Academy, Oxford
10/27 - The Marquee, Hertford
10/28 - The Tower, Winchester
10/29 - The Soul tree, Cambridge
10/30 - The Charlotte, Leicester
Billie the Vision & the DancersAfter last year's uneven "Where the ocean meets my hand", Billie and his band of twee warriors have returned with what is easily their most consistent album, and also their best. Most notably, the band has added a proper drumkit this time around, and the time was ripe for such a maneuver, as bongos can only take you so far (even Guster realized this one). The drums, therefore allow their songs to groove like they haven't done before, thus "Lily From the Middleway Street" and "Swedish sin" are great, driving songs. And with "I miss you" and "Relay race", the band has given us their most affecting work since "Ghost". After a bit of a lull, it's great to see Billie the Vision and the Dancers back on their game.
- Matt Giordano
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Hello Saferide
02. Frida Hyvönen
03. Håkan Hellström
04. Loney, Dear
05. Billie the Vision & The Dancers
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Kite
08. The Bear Quartet
09. Vapnet
10. Le Sport
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Billie the Vision & the Dancers are going to Germany for a couple shows:
07/14 - Bremen, Römer
07/15 - Bar 227, Hamburg
This third album by Billie the Vision & The Dancers is quite interesting. Whilst the music is easily the strongest in their catalog to date (thus leaving the record with no moments that drag on), lyrically, the album is very inaccessible, which is somewhat strange considering their last two efforts. It feels as though they've recorded the album for their friends, with the numerous inside-jokes and descriptions of specific events ("Absolutely, salutely" and "A beautiful night in Oslo") and perhaps the most pop-culture references ever put to tape ("Overdosing with you" and "I've been having some strange dreams"). On top of that, the amount of characters has tripled, adding to the detachment of the listener. It's a tad discerning because I do consider this to be their most solid album, but I can't help but feel left on the outide of their very (very) bizarre world, looking on as Billie the Vision dances with tranvestites, Argentines and The Pipettes in the dimly lit parking lots of Oslo.
- Matt Giordano
I figure that since I've already spent the last few Fridays going back to revisit a few earlier 2006 releases that I didn't cover as much as I should've, I might as well continue the trend. In that spirit, here's an mp3 from Billie the Vision & the Dancers and some words from frequent contributor Matt Giordano:
It's really hard to describe this because it is just a remarkable piece of songwriting: subdued and beautiful; aching and tragic. This is just one of the reasons Billie the Vision & the Dancers have ascended high up the Swedish indie scene. I'm looking forward to hearing what they do next and, for those of that have never heard of them, you can download their albums for free from their website. I'd just like to give a huge "Thank You" to the band for giving away their beautiful music.
And thank you Matt for sharing the love. This is a band that a lot of people, myself included, expect big things from in 2007. Keep an eye on 'em!
Billie the Vision & the Dancers - Ghost
When getting to know Billie the Vision and the Dancers music for the first time it's easy to dismiss it as happy-go-lucky pop, similar to Håkan Hellström and the euphoria it brings. But underneath that facade lies a gloomy feeling that never leaves and that is what I really enjoy about this band. The seven piece band mixes head-turning singalong tunes with lyrics about insufficiency, family-issues, friends, unanswered love and, most of all, Pablo gets to you. According to the band, Pablo could be anyone out there, personifying those feelings we carry within each day. Billie the Vision and the Dancers let those feelings out with smart songwriting and some shoegaze influences. And in a really great way too! This is their second album (cunningly established on the song "One more full length record") and though I find the first one, "I was so unpopular in school and now they're giving me this beautiful bicycle", a bit more coherent and in your face, this one proves that Billie the Vision is here to stay.
- Jonas Appelqvist
Billie the Vision & the Dancers now confirmed for Tack! Tack! Tack! in March. Go here to get tickets and act fast, they're disappearing quickly.
