Mr. Suitcase live at Klubb Rotor

Swedish electronic artist Mr. Suitcase is offering up the recording of a recent live gig as a free download: http://www.mrsuitcase.se/site/2009/01/mp3-from-uppsala-gig/

Mr. Suitcase's gig at Klubb Rotor in Uppsala on December 12 might be the last you hear of him in a long while: http://www.mrsuitcase.se/site/2008/11/one-more-kickdrum-for-the-road/

The Kitty Litter netlabel has a new release from Mr. Suitcase posted today: http://www.kittylittermp3.se/2008/05/mr-suitcase/

Mr. Suitcase
Guidelines for an emerging century
Kitty Litter Records

After his stellar collaboration with Montt Mardié ("Grand Prix finals"), I had very high hopes for the Mr. Suitcase debut album. Quite disappointingly, nothing on here comes close to touching that track in terms of a dancefloor hit. His problem isn't the club-friendly beats, because all of those, although quite typical in their sound and feel, are executed well and with precision, but is the vocals. Even the single "You don't smile anymore" lacks that heavy hook that would get the ravers and the Mediterranean clubbers singing along. That his songs are lacking half of the strength of a club anthem is really what brings this all down into mediocrity. If Mr. Suitcase, either for his next album or series of singles, collaborates with stronger vocalists to push his beats into ecstasy, then he'll be accompanying his songs in Dubrovnik and Ibiza, djing for the nightclub scene he's vying for.
- Matt Giordano

MP3: Mr. Suitcase - You don't smile anymore

The lead single from Mr. Suitcase's debut full-length "Guidelines for an emerging century" is pleasant enough, but undemanding. It passes by without leaving an impression. I keep anticipating that each new chorus will explode, but it never ever happens. That cascading vocal line could be huge if it was supported by a heavier beat. Is it a conscious move? To keep things more lowkey and "indie"? If so, it was the wrong decision. Someone alert me when there's a proper bangin' remix.

Mr. Suitcase - You don't smile anymore

The playlist for my radio show this week:

01. Paper - My life is going under
02. TALK 1
03. Mr. Suitcase - You don't smile anymore
04. Camouflage - Violetta du
05. Majessic Dreams - Black out
06. TALK 2
07. Amorphis - Towards and against
08. Beyond Dawn - Among the sedatives
09. Don't Be A Stranger - Perfect problem
10. TALK 3
11. Totalitär - Nej vi ska inte ha nåt
12. Miss Li - I'm glad I'm not a proud American
13. Tiger Lou - A lucky escape
14. Oskar Schönning - Fraid
15. TALK 4
16. Karsten Pflum - Draworder
17. Anna Ternheim - Lovers dream
18. Front and the Factory Lies Beneath - Drown in misery
19. TALK 5
20. Midaircondo - Could you please stop
21. Pg.lost - Yes I am
22. The Perishers - Carefree
23. TALK 6
24. Pistol Disco - Upside down
25. Nasum - The system has failed again
26. Sweatmaster - Mystery
27. The Second Band - The modern age
28. Träd, Gräs och Stenar - In kommer gösta
29. TALK 7
30. Ultralyd - Low waist
31. Ambulance - Forever friends
32. The Social Services - Up in arms
33. TALK 8
34. Barra Head - Overseas
35. Sivert Høyem - Exiles
36. Viola - Imaginary times
37. TALK 9
38. Kornstad - Turkey, Texas

Discobelle has the new Mr. Suitcase track "Missionaires" for download: http://www.discobelle.net/2007/06/06/missionaires/

Montt Mardié
Clocks/Pretender
Hybris

One always hopes that the sophomore album is an improvement, a realisation, and when it is just that, the results can be glorious. Such is the case with the second proper full-length effort from Montt Mardié (and it's a double-disc nonetheless). With the two CDs clocking in at a hour combined, there is no filler attached, yet one can choose just thirty minutes of listening enjoyment at once should they desire. The first disc, "Clocks", is where David Pagmar's vision of everything swinging is pulled off properly, with the instrumentation and vocals working so well. Take note of the pitch-perfect harmonies on "Birthday Boy (drama)", the sad spoken word of "Set sail tomorrow (strings)", and the stellar minimal instrumentation of "Travellers". Disc two, conversely, is comprised of collaborations, and harkens more to the 80s in its sound. Montt Mardié not only delivers ballads ("Surprised" with Andreas Mattsson and "Pretenders" with Hello Saferide), dance numbers ("Metropolis" with Fredrik Hellström of Le Sport and "My girlfriend is in the Grand Prix finals" with Mr. Suitcase) and even one in his native Swedish with the always-stellar Vapnet ("När ni gett dom våld ska vi ge er kärlek"). "Clocks/Pretender" is the sound of a matured Montt Mardié, and this album floored me with how much every single thing has been improved. Lastly, I'd recommend picking up a physical copy of this, as the packaging amazing.
- Matt Giordano

Top 10s for 2006: Viktor Sjöberg

Download Ison & Fille as remixed by Mr. Suitcase: http://www.discobelle.net/2006/11/29/give-me/

Discobelle posts Mr. Suitcase's "Leftovers" EP: http://www.discobelle.net/category/discobelle/

Unarmed Enemies have posted two remix tracks (The Light Bulb Project and Mr. Suitcase) for download: http://www.unarmedenemies.se/

Vapen & Godis has announced that Otur's debut album "Pepperbox Hill" will be released on May 5. Otur is the electro/synthpop solo project of Emma Bates from The Light Bulb Project. The single "Apart" comes out April 21 and features remixes by Mr. Suitcase and Carl-H Hallén (Kompis) along with a video treatment by director Sofie Traav.

Otur's first single from his forthcoming album "Pepperbox hill" will be for the song "Apart". It comes out April 21 via Vapen & Godis and will be accompanied by two remix b-sides, one by Mr. Suitcase and one from Carl-H Hallén of Kompis. The full-length album will follow on May 5.

Confirmed tracklist for Montt Mardié's upcoming double EP:

"Valentine"
01. 1969
02. Highschool trauma
03. Audrey Hepburn
04. The family
05. Let's get away from it all (Frank Sinatra cover)

"Chameleon"
01. Fritz Lang's Metropolis - w/Le Sport
02. Hurry home - w/The Legends
03. The loss of love in the romance capital - w/tba
04. My girlfriend is in the Grand Prix finals - w/Mr. Suitcase
05. Castle in the sky - w/tba