Listen to Mattias Hellberg (Hederos & Hellberg, The Hellacopters, etc.) and Mattias Areskog (Brothers of End, Consequences, Friska Viljor, etc.) perform the song "Black cloud man" together: http://soundcloud.com/hellberg-areskog/black-cloud-man
Apparently the duo of Mattiases will be releasing an album together and this is the first rough mix sample.
Considering that Nina Persson, Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson have all had their fun with various sideprojects (A Camp, Paus and Righteous Boy respectively), it's only fair that fellow Cardigans drummer Bengt Lagerberg and keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson Ståle get in on the game as well. Brothers of End is their new band together with prolific songwriter/sideman Mattias Areskog (Consequences, Friska Viljor, Marit Bergman, etc.) and "Why" is their debut single. It's a beautiful slice of slow-cooked pop, full of lush vocal harmonies, endless shimmering textures and driven by a lazy, laidback jangle. In a word: mellow. These guys can't be hurried, not that I figure you'd have much luck trying. Besides, I'm a big fan of taking it slow and easy.
As much as I love to complain about how much terrible music keeps getting unleashed on the world, 2009 is shaping up to be a great year and I'm really looking forward to hearing more from these guys. Their full-length debut "The end" comes out October 14 via Konjaga/Playground Music.
Brothers of End - Why
Another Swedish supergroup tip via PSL: Brothers of End, featuring Bengt Lagerberg and Lars-Olof Johansson Ståle from The Cardigans plus their childhood friend from Jönköping, Mattias Areskog (Consequences, Marit Bergman, Friska Viljor, etc.). The group's debut album "The end" will be released October 14; in the meantime, hear a track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brothersofend
Nutid is the duo of Åsa Jacobsson and Alf Håkan Åkesson and together they make beautiful instrumental music. Which is odd in a way because Åsa is well-known as Marit Bergman's favorite songwriting collaborator and she has also worked with quite a few other Stockholm-based pop projects (Consequences, Peter Bjorn and John, etc.). Alf is no slouch either, he's released a few well-received folksy singer/songwriter albums under his first name. So for the two of them to come together to do something completely different is a surprise; unexpected but welcome. "Pianoflikkan" is one of the longer tracks on the record (they typically average out to 2:30-3:00, owing very much to the duo's pop-oriented roots) and is quite reminiscent of classic Swedish progg. The melodies are very Jan Johansson in their elegant melancholy, especially when the piano takes the lead, but the piece wouldn't sound out of place on a Björn Olsson album either. The cinematic and the pastoral, together as one; a bit of twang and timpani. Spring has finally arrived and the flowers are slowing opening just like the smiles on people's faces as they enjoy a bit of hard-earned sunshine. This is the soundtrack for such a morning.
Nutid - Pianoflikkan
Sebastian Karlsson's new album "The most beautiful lie" will be released on November 5 via Roxy Recordings. Said album was produced by Ronald Bood (Consequences, Mando Diao) and will be preceding by the first single "My getaway" on September 22.
The lineup for this year's Great Escape Festival has been confirmed and will include a special Norwegian spotlight featuring the artists 120 Days, Adjagas and "Reader's companion" alums The Lionheart Brothers: http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=387899
Other Scandinavians include IAT artist Hello Saferide plus Consequences, Promise and Monster, Loney, Dear, Johnossi, Magenta Skycode, Oh No Ono, Rockettothesky, Kissaway Trail and probably a few others whose names I don't instantly recognize.
On March 27 Swedish act Consequences will be releasing a limited edition 7" featuring the track "Parasite" via UK label Wi45. They will also tour in support:
03/27 - The Engine Room, Brighton
03/28 - The Fly, London
03/29 - Monto Water Rats, London
The new Consequences single "Birds are singing" is posted on myspace for listening and download: http://www.myspace.com/bewareoftheconsequences
It's a newly recorded version that's a bit faster than the original album version. Check out the video clip a bit further down the page, too.
In related news, Hello Saferide will be playing the Absolut Swedish Music Festival at The Village in Dublin on March 3 along with Moneybrother and Taxi, Taxi!. Other artists set to appear at the festival include Zeigeist, Samuraj Cities, Consequences, Juvelen, I'm From Barcelona and Salem Al Fakir.
Consequences have recorded a new, faster version of the song "Birds are singing" for their next single. It was recorded and produced by Ronald Bood and a video is under production by Filmtecknarna. The official release date is February 21.
Wow. What a tight bombastic burst of big glorious driving pop! When Jim Kelly at Parasol Records starts rearranging his top ten lists to squeeze in a last-minute contender, his band of choice is usually worth a listen, and indeed, this one's more than worth it. It's loaded with memorable melodies, powerful catchy riffs, gloriously full sound, poignant lead vocals, fun harmonies, and thoughtful lyrics. There are glimpses of references here and there, but they've really got their own thing going on. I'm with Jim: one of the year's best.
- Nancy Baym
The best song from the Consequences demo is still the best song on their debut full-length album, though it must be said that the new version is substantially beefed up. No more Peter Bjorn and John drum loop (from "I don't know what I want us to do" off their first album), instead we're treated to a lush full band arrangement with backing vocals provided by none other than Marit Bergman and Frida Hyvönen. The first single "Release me from love" is a good'un, but this here's a total barn-burner.
Buy Consequences' self-titled debut album: [click here]
Consequences - Come on
It's new release day here at It's a trap! I quietly added Tsukimono's excellent debut album "Née" to the webstore last week and today am happy to offer up new releases from Consequences, Once We Were and Plain Fade. The first two are preorder only right now (but in-stock, so all purchases will arrive on or before the actual day of release) and I'll be talking more about them later, so let's concentrate on the latter. Plain Fade has been one of my favorite Finnish acts ever since I first heard a demo track a few years ago. Their debut album "Lies, sanctions and cruise missiles" upped the ante even further, cementing them in my mind as one of best, most inventive post-rock acts of our time. Getting a track from them for "Reader's companion volume two" was a no-brainer. It simply had to be done. However, if you heard their contribution "Itä-Aure" you'd already know that the band has moved way far beyond what they were doing before. The band's new album "Aure" is largely improvisational and sounds totally unlike anything/anyone else. From slow-burning atmospheric pieces to loud outbursts of noise and even operatic singing, "Aure" runs through an impressive amount of sonic territory in its 40-minute runtime. One of 2006's best releases? Do you have to ask?
Plain Fade - Siikamo/Pikkusiikamo