Thomas Denver Jonsson and Bobby Baby are touring Germany later this month:
11/24 - Societätstheater, Dresden
11/25 - Kunstbauerkino, Großhennersdorf
11/26 - Metropolis, Münster
11/27 - Güterbahnhof, Bremen
11/28 - Astra Stube, Hamburg
11/29 - Hinz und Kunz, Leipzig
11/30 - Matahari Bar, Nürnberg
12/01 - Nähfabrik, Schrobenhausen
12/02 - Avocado, Kassel
12/03 - Schokoladen, Berlin
Thomas Denver Jonsson is heading to Germany for a couple shows at the end of the month:
04/30 - Studio Zehn, Berlin
05/02 - Intersoup, Berlin w/Bobby Baby
Bobby & BlummSurely you've seen musicians after not-so-well-received shows when they wear their "well, that sucked"-smiles and sip on their beers. Last Saturday was one of those days for me when I went to a magazine (well, actually it's a little box full of art) release party at Berlin's "Create Berlin Showroom" where Bobby & Blumm (Bobby Baby and FS Blumm) were set to play. And it could have been such a great evening - free beer, free chocolate, beautiful songs - if not for all the other people who were apparently only there for the beer, the chocolate, and possibly the art. Frank and Ella's setup was entirely computer-free; mostly he just played the guitar while she sang or made friendly noises with a music box, a keyboard and other assorted toys. But the atmosphere and noise from all the talking were just not right for Bobby and Blumm's careful and unobtrusive music, even though they deliberately left out their quietest songs (such as the beautiful "Not at home"). Still, the little hints of how it'd be to see them play a "real" gig made me regret the times that I've already missed them perform before. Better luck next time, I guess.
- Arnulf Köhncke
Bobby Baby is a young Swedish artist I've been following for a couple years now and in that time she's moved from Malmö to Berlin and grown tremendously as an artist. She's also started up a number of collaborative projects, one of them being Bobby & Blumm with German artist F.S. Blumm (Frank Schültge Blumm) whose debut album "Everybody loves" was recently released on Morr Music. I have to be honest: Morr typically epitomizes the kind of listless tweepop I loathe, but I must admit they have a few gems in their catalogue and this is certainly one of them. Largely a subdued affair, Bobby & Blumm relies almost solely on the pure tones of Bobby's vocals and Blumm's guitar. Opening track "Not at home" layers on a bit of chimes, but the basic formula remains. There's a quiet melancholy to it, but it's more pretty then gut-wrenching. There's a nice slow-build to it too, as subtle electronics creep into the mix. There's still plenty of negative space and it's employed to full effect, but it's the drawn-out dynamic shift and forward movement that elevates the track above other similarly minded artists. Essentially, perfect music for a Monday morning. Get started slow.
Bobby & Blumm - Not at home
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Boys of Scandinavia - Worse than a girl
02. TALK 1
03. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr
04. Deathbed - Neon light fantasy
05. The Grand Opening - Dark dark dawn
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - I have an itch
08. C.Aarmé - Dustin
09. Noxagt - Wall's end
10. TALK 3
11. Menfolk - Hell is in Texas
12. Detektivbyrån - Hemvägen
13. Folk&Røvere - Solveigs sang
14. TALK 4
15. Bobby Baby - Goodbye love
16. Häive - Raina: Yömyrsky
17. Peter Bjorn and John - All those expectations
18. TALK 5
19. Meleeh - Vittra
20. Rigas - The hardest pocket to pick
21. The Kid - Mayhem troopers
22. TALK 6
23. Cortex - Warrior night
24. Tiger Lou - The war between us
25. Sophie Rimheden - Stay the night (ft. Adam Tensta)
26. TALK 7
27. Moto Boy - Beat heart
28. Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos - Kanske jag kommer hem
29. September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?
30. TALK 8
31. Säkert! - Sanningsdan
32. Paper - Before that day
33. Moonbabies - Walking on my feet
34. TALK 9
35. Susanne Sundfør - I resign
36. Stina Nordenstam - Trainsurfing
37. Red Moon - The height
38. TALK 10
39. Broder Daniel - When we were winning
Bobby & BlummBobby Baby aka Ella Blixt has been on many folk's indiepop-radar for a few years now. Recently, she's put her solo-efforts on hold and joined forces with German multi-talent F.S.Blumm on their project Bobby & Blumm. From the start, this seemed to be an exciting match: Blumm is a classically-trained guitarist who has released a number of mostly instrumental records full of analogue warmth and experimental playfulness. Their debut together, which appears on Berlin's Morr Music label, manages to combine the best of both worlds. Juxtaposed by Blumm's virtuosic yet never intrusive or flashy guitar melodies, Bobby Baby's voice sounds more gripping than ever in these minimal arrangements. At the same time, the songwriting seems more focused than in some of her solo-work, while what remains of her trademark synths greatly adds to the album's otherwise refreshingly analogue sound. Despite all the obvious skills that went into making this record -- all the hisses, rustles and cracks that were carefully put into place -- it still emits a certain calm introspectiveness that makes you want to listen to it again and again.
- Arnulf Köhncke
Swedish indie artist Bobby Baby, now living in Berlin, is collaborating with Frank Schültge Blumm (F.S. Blumm) on a new project called Bobby & Blumm. Look for an album early next year, but in the meantime, preview three tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bobbyandblumm
Upcoming live dates around Germany for Bobby Baby in her various incarnations:
11/06 - NBI, Berlin (Bobby & Blumm)
11/08 - Schokoladen, Berlin (It's a Musical)
11/11 - Plastikk Club, Bremen (Bobby & Blumm)
11/12 - Asta Wohnzimmer, Lüneburg (Bobby & Blumm)
11/13 - Mint Music, Hannover (Bobby & Blumm)
11/14 - Haus 73, Hamburg (Bobby & Blumm)
11/22 - Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig (Bobby & Blumm)
11/29 - Bang Bang Club, Berlin w/Boy Omega (Bobby Baby)
12/02 - Bang Bang Club, Berlin (It's a Musical)
12/06 - Belleville, Berlin (Bobby & Blumm)
12/08 - Ladyfest Winterfest @ Garage Pankow, Berlin (Bobby Baby)
12/09 - Club im Park, Fürstenwalde (Bobby Baby)
12/10 - Frau Hedi, Hamburg (Bobby Baby)
12/11 - E-werk, Erlangen (Bobby Baby)
12/12 - Südstadt, München (Bobby Baby)
12/13 - Kulturhaus Abraxas, Augsburg (Bobby Baby)
12/14 - Café Central, Magdeburg(Bobby Baby)
The playlist for my radio show this week:
01. Mattias Bärjed - 99 pounds
02. TALK 1
03. Piroth - Waltz for prima ballerina
04. Hyacinth House - Swedish signs on Monkey Island
05. Aerial - Secret goddess
06. Icos - Fly away
07. TALK 2
08. Robyn - Konichiwa bitches (Trentemøller remix)
09. Folke Rabe - Argh!
10. Him Kerosene - Ladybugs
11. TALK 3
12. Audionom - In the streets
13. The Alpine - Trigger
14. Immanu El - Astral days
15. TALK 4
16. Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos - Jag har en vän
17. Logh - Thieves in the palace
18. Galento - Gunnar Hardings paraply
19. TALK 5
20. Promise and the Monster - Antarkis
21. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Heroica
22. Anchor - In the throes of passion
23. TALK 6
24. Repoman - Valley of snakes
25. Ulver - Shadows of the sun
26. Bobby Baby - Do not twist
27. TALK 7
28. Superfamily - Warszawa
29. The Fine Arts Showcase - Modern love
30. Sinikka Langeland - Sus i myrull
31. TALK 8
32. Graveyard - Thin line
33. Mai - Snowing downtown
34. KVLR - Abomination
35. TALK 9
36. Säkert! - Sanningsdan
New German dates for Bobby Baby:
05/19 - Bang Bang Club, Berlin w/Pelle Carlberg
06/22 - NBI, Berlin
06/23 - Scheune, Dresden
06/24 - Live in the Living, Kassel w/Theoretical Girl
06/25 - tbc, Göttingen
06/26 - Künstlerhaus 73, Hamburg
The Eardrums music blog on It's a Musical, a collaboration between Swedish artist Bobby Baby and Robot from German act Lady Boy: http://blog.eardrumsmusic.com/2007/05/its-musical.html
The tracklist for Montt Mardié's forthcoming double album "Clocks/Pretender":
Clocks:
01. In which we meet the clocks and a song is reveled (Too many songs unwritten)
02. Set sail tomorrow
03. Birthday boy (drama)
04. I will write a book
05. Let's get away from it all
06. 1969
07. Travelers
08. The windmill turns all the same
09. How I won the war
10. In which a sailor returns and we say good-bye for now (Set sail tomorrow)
Pretender:
01. Surprised (with Andreas Mattsson)
02. Metropolis (with Fredrik Hellström of Le Sport)
03. Once I was so in love that I followed (with Bobby Baby)
04. Castle in the sky (with Jens Lekman)
05. Hurry home (with The Legends)
06. Daughters (with Peder Stenberg of Deportees)
07. Hacienda (with Christian Zellinger)
08. När vi gett dom våld ska vi ge er kärlek (with Vapnet)
09. Grand Prix finals (with Mr Suitcase)
10. Pretenders (with Hello Saferide)
As mentioned before, it comes out April 18 via Hybris. Buy the first single "The windmill turns all the same" and download a free track here: http://tinyurl.com/yoo7nl
If you've popped "Loves to dance" into your stereo hoping for a fevered romp around the kitchen, you will be sorely disappointed. Sweet young Malmö dreamer Ella Blixt is more Amelie than Annie. And the title song is more about love than dancing. But I'm not complaining. On the contrary! I do have a soft spot for dreamy pop and soothing sentiment, and this EP is big on both. It's the perfect accompaniment to a long, hot bath, or a lazy Sunday morning lie-in. Ironically, the tune most likely to get you bopping in your bubbles is "I won't dance with you baby tonight", while "Goodbye love" will have you crying into your comforter. Gorgeous, mellow electronic innocence, in an adorable pixie package. Mmm.
- Stacey Shackford
