Artist: I'm From Barcelona
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I'm From Barcelona's approach to songwriting reminds me, for whatever reason, of Wes Anderson's films: the modernization of older tropes and themes; the narrative and occasionally cinematic style of the songs; the playful nature one can adopt while exploring the significance one attaches to the world, and that is attached to the observer; and it never hurts that tracks such as "Andy" and "Music killed me" could easily find their way onto an Anderson soundtrack (and would feel dreadfully out of place in an effort like "Juno"). References to the "Cosby Show", complete with background television noise, evoke comparisons to Montt Mardié and Jens Lekman, though I'm From Barcelona's interest in the past is not the main focus of the album and serves to compliment their excursions into fuller twee compositions. One can hear elements of Shout Out Louds, and of Scandinavian indie pop in general -- glockenspiels, 60s-style backing vocals and backing instrumentation, but the success of "Who killed Harry Houdini?" is embodied in I'm From Barcelona's ability to stir up remembrances of one band or genre of music and then continue onwards through varied avenues towards the band's original goal. "Rufus", the album's closing composition, wonderfully exemplifies my ideas: stumbling into David Bowie territory, complete with spacey backing vocals and fabulously manipulated lead guitars, only to break back down into the paths carved out by the record's earlier tracks. "Who killed Harry Houdini?" is far more difficult to sufficiently describe than it is to enjoy and eventually fall for.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
I'm From Barcelona mainman Emmanuel Lundgren's greatest skill is his ability to turn the smallest everyday occurrence into a grand musical gesture. Whether it's an inside joke about "Fawty Towers" (see the band's moniker and semi-eponymous single), collecting stamps, making a treehouse or even doing the laundry late at night (see "When stars come out" by pre-IFB band Valley Days), it's those little things that make a difference. Distill those thoughts to their essence and set it to a lushly orchestrated backdrop and you've got perfect pop, accessible to everyone. Though the new IFB album "Who killed Harry Houdini?" does find the time and energy to be more contemplative (see "Music killed me" for instance), it's still those simple ideas that carry the day. Who hasn't spent idle time folding paper planes? Or at least doing something comparable - it's universally appealing, so of course Lundgren nails it.
As with the band's first album, "Who killed Harry Houdini?" struggles to remain consistent through it's entire runtime and could have been reduced to a near-perfect EP, but it's still quite good as-is. I also appreciate that it's not all euphoric pop all the time, a nod back to Lundgren's time with Valley Days. To all the people who doubted whether or not they could remain relevant, you might be surprised.
I'm From Barcelona - Paper planes
The new I'm From Barcelona album "Who killed Harry Houdini?" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/imfrombarcelona
Two new, previously unheard I'm From Barcelona tracks ("Andy" and "Headphones") are streaming at this microsite for the new album "Who killed Harry Houdini?": http://www.whokilledharryhoudini.com/
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Midnight Choir - Will you carry me across the water?
02. TALK 1
03. Anna Maria Espinosa - Everyday
04. I Are Droid - Sevenfold
05. Paavoharju - Kevätrumpu
06. TALK 2
07. I'm From Barcelona - Music killed me
08. Marit Bergman - All that I ask of the morning
09. Ef - Thrills
10. TALK 3
11. Hello Saferide - Anna
12. Freddie Wadling - Running madly backwards
13. Tobias Hellkvist - Vintervarm
14. TALK 4
15. Scraps of Tape - Vibrancy
16. Oskar Schönning - Stoner
17. Elias and the Wizzkids - 24
18. TALK 5
19. Robert Svensson - Young enough (ft. Markus Krunegård)
Reminder: My show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on Monday at the same time.
The new I'm From Barcelona track "Music killed me" has barely been out a week, but Adventure Kid has already posted his own version: http://www.adventurekid.se/AdventureKid-MusicKilledMe.mp3
I'm From Barcelona's new website is now open and they're offering the new track "Music killed me" as a free download: http://www.imfrombarcelona.com/
I'm From Barcelona will be back in the UK in November:
11/24 - The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
11/25 - Scala, London
11/26 - Concorde 2, Brighton
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Laakso - Worst case scenario
02. TALK 1
03. The Kid - Mayhem troopers
04. We Live In Trenches - Autonomy clinic
05. Detektivbyrån - Om du möter varg
06. TALK 2
07. I'm From Barcelona - Paper planes
08. Wired for Mono - The man behind the wall
09. The Amazing - Dragon
10. TALK 3
11. Pugh Rogefeldt - Surabaya Johnny
12. Opeth - The lotus eater
13. The Knife - Silent shout
14. TALK 4
15. Culkin - Allegiance
16. Haust - Desperate living
17. Lack - Behead
18. Nitad - Ge mig ge mig
19. TALK 5
20. Kamraterna - Det här är ditt land
Reminder: my show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on Monday.
Everyone's favorite Swedish indiepop bigband I'm From Barcelona will release the new album "Who Killed Harry Houdini?" on September 24 with the first single "Paper planes" preceding it on August 18. Look for a video from director Jonas Odell soon, but in the meantime, watch them perform the song live from Coachella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUhANLpqtYI
Updated summer festival dates for I'm From Barcelona:
07/04 - Bygdalarm, Oystese (NOR)
07/05 - Quartfestivalen, Kristiansand (NOR)
07/18 - Positivus Festival, Riga (LV)
07/20 - Festival de Poupet, St-Malo du Bois 85 (FRA)
07/23 - Paléo Festival, Nyon (CH)
07/24 - Hana Bi, Ravenna (ITA)
07/25 - Festa dell'Unità, Rome (ITA)
07/26 - Stone Hill Festival, Alterswil (CH)
I'm From Barcelona