Joachim Dahlberg, solo

Joachim Dahlberg (ex-Closer) is working on establishing himself as a proper Swedish singer/songwriter and has posted a bunch of demo tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/joachimdahlberg

Dyno - New noise (video)

Kind of weird to watch this video without actually hearing Refused, but it does bridge the gap between Dyno and Closer. I dig it! Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UrEQGuOlSU

Dyno - Don't speak love (video)

Hard to believe some of the guys from Dyno used to be in Closer, but hey, people are complicated. Looks like the transition to mainstream pop is complete and good for them, they do a great job with it. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4HLukqkG9Q

Dyno album preview?

Dyno (ex-Closer) are streaming a bunch of new song clips from what I presume will be their debut album: http://www.myspace.com/dynodynodyno

DontStopThePop interviews Dyno

DontStopThePop interviews Dyno, the new pop band that rose from the ashes of Closer: http://dontstopthepop.blogspot.com/2009/03/amazing-dyno-get-interviewed.html

Dyno gets emotional

Dyno (ex-Closer/Bright Oak) has a new track on myspace called "Emotional", easily some of their best material yet: http://www.myspace.com/dynodynodyno
Perhaps I need to reconsider my previous assessment?

MP3: Dyno - Deliverance

From Closer to The Bright Oak to... Dyno? From progressive hardrock to... dance music? "Deliverance is essentially a reworking of Bright Oak's "The undertow" with sharper rhythm and more emotional distance. It's still a good song with a strong, uplifting chorus, but I have to admit that I much prefer the original. Live drumming and a slightly more relaxed tempo give the song room to breath and the original lyrics on the chorus flow far better than the yeah yeah yeahs put in their place. However, despite my initial bum-out, I'm giving these guys time. It's just that it's incredibly hard for me to not compare them to past bands, especially when they come so closely on the heels of one another. Hold it together, wait and see what happens.

Dyno - Deliverance

MP3: Bright Oak - On the list

When Closer first disbanded, the core membership went on to form The Goatboys, a short-lived project that was intended to be a stripped-down version of their previous act. Faster, shorter, less complicated; back to basics, if you will. Unfortunately, nothing really ever came of them except a few rough demos, but now those same guys have moved on yet again to form Bright Oak. I'm unaware if the guys had any high-minded intentions with this act, but I can tell you that the name "historically stands as a notable meeting place for wise and powerful people to share information and solve problems." Judging from that, I'd say that yes, they do have big plans, I'm just not privy to them yet. As for the music, the most important part, it's somewhere between The Goatboys and Closer. The first three songs they've recorded are definitely the most "mainstream" material I've heard from them so far. Not as raw as The Goatboys, neither are they as proggressive as Closer. The arrangements are verse/chorus oriented and none extend beyond 4:30 in length. They slip in a few tricks here and there, but it's very subtle -- an odd melody here and there, maybe a short rhythmic interlude. It is definitely pop music. The choruses are big, uplifting and immediate. Everything is clear and concise. I miss Closer's tendency towards secrecy and conceptualism because a higher barrier of entry often makes for an overall more rewarding listening experience, but I also understand the frustration of playing music like that without having people "get it". Bright Oak, for better or worse, plays music that is very easy to get. I look forward to hearing more.

Bright Oak - On the list

It appears that ex-Closer act The Goatboys was short-lived as members Alx Reuterskiöld (guitar), Jesper Örtegren (drums) and Joachim Dahlberg (guitar) have moved on to yet another new act, this one called Bright Oak. Listen to demos at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thebrightoak
Less heavy, more melodic, but still undeniably awesome as far as I'm concerned.

The Goatboys, the band built on the charred remains of IAT favorites Closer, have posted two demo tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegoatboys

Closer
The 39
Closersounds

Progressive metal has, to be honest, never been up my alley. There are some bands out there with those tendencies I approve of, like King Crimson, Opeth and TOOL among others. And Closer share similarities with the latter in general, the album "Ænima" in particular. The build up to the chorus on "Sensing the wake" is pure genius using elements from folklore, something TOOL's not afraid of doing either. Otherwise, this newly disbanded Stockholm-based combo sure gets my kicks off in all tracks on this EP. Don't know if it's something geographical but you can definitely hear the Scandinavian touch to it. Resembling Cult of Luna and Khoma and even, at times, At the Drive-In, it's a damn shame they decided to call it quits. Let's just hope that offspring act The Goatboys will be as promising.
- Jonas Appelqvist

The playlist for my radio show this week featured all of my favorite songs from 2007:

01. Susanne Sundfør - I resign
02. TALK 1
03. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle
04. The Skull Defekts - The secret
05. Ted Gärdestad - Räcker jag till
06. TALK 2
07. CS Nielsen - Black spots
08. Kornstad - Turkey, Texas
09. Moonbabies - Take me to the ballroom
10. The Bombettes - I wanna
11. TALK 3
12. Promise and the Monster - Sheets
13. Repoman - Chemically obsessed
14. The Bell - I am history
15. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt
16. TALK 4
17. Mainliners - Olivia
18. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
19. Karin Ström - Ordlös
20. TALK 5
21. Fun - I've got a truck
22. Tobias Hellkvist - Moment at ven
23. Juvelen - Hanna
24. TALK 6
25. Laakso - Worst case scenario
26. Closer - Sensing the wake
27. Asha Ali - A promise broken
28. TALK 7
29. Paper - My life is going under
30. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Flir
31. Lukestar - White shade
32. TALK 8
33. Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg
34. Aerial - You will all die, all things will
35. Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
36. TALK 9

Next week (12/29) I'm doing another special theme show on Swedish postpunk.

Another day, another top 10 - today's list comes from Joachim Dahlberg of Closer and includes the message that the band is, sadly, no more. RIP. Otherwise, for those that might've missed it, check out our own top album picks for 2007 right here and listen to our top tracks of 2007 podcast.

Top 10s for 2007: Joachim Dahlberg (ex-Closer)

Closer guitarist Alx Reuterskiöld has made a new myspace profile for his soundtrack compositions: http://www.myspace.com/carooze