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"Dirty tender love" will be record number three for the band Pen Expers and, as before, this newest album features dark rock á la Sweden, meaning gloomy and depressing. Pen Expers really have the ability to influence the mood of the listener with their music, so it might not always be the most fitting choice as it will ruin your day. Maybe this is a feature that comes with good, honest music, however, I often find that Pen Expers leave their genuine sound for more stereotypical dark rock'n'roll during this record. At times the desperation from Alexander Arvman's vocals seem borrowed. This is doubtless good music though and Pen Expers is a good band -- they truly shines through on the track "Don't you wanna kiss me anymore?" -- but they are also good enough to make their own genre rather than trying to fit into already made-up categories.
- Morten Frisch
Drummer Anders Malm has left Pen Expers to concentrate on his other band Love & Happiness. Daniel Moilanen has been recruited to take his place and the band has also added Oskar Lindberg on keys. In other news, the band will be going back into Svenska Grammofon to record a new album later this month.
Pen Expers' most recent album "Baby's gone straight" will be released in Germany on November 28. Hear the first single "Valentine shirt" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/penexpersband
I think it's fair to say that Jerry Bowman is a Göteborg scenester. I know that many people bristle at the term, but really, how else do you describe someone who is not only a prominent member of the local media, but also a show promoter and respected blogger? And yes, this week's guest in our ongoing Gbg-spotlight series. I mean no disrespect! So with that, on to the questions!
How long have you lived in Gbg? What brought you/keeps you there?
I've been walking the streets of Göteborg since 2001, when I got a job here. I'm from a small town on the west coast of Sweden, where everybody dreams about Göteborg. I pictured the city in a romantic haze, and when I moved here that image turned out to be true. I'm staying because I've found my home.
Do you think that there's a particular Gbg sound or attitude? If so, how would you describe it? Any prominent examples you'd like to cite?
There is no Göteborg sound. That's a myth created by the media. I think it's more of an attitude, a feeling of being the underdog. No one has ever really called Göteborg an underdog though, it's more of a self-inflicted position. People in Göteborg like to be the dirty, obnoxious dog compared to Stockholm. I think that Göteborg is more open to music that speaks from the heart. The bands just let it flow, they don't really give a shit about what's 'right' or 'wrong'.
A few examples are: Autisterna, Pen Expers, They Live by Night, Peter Sjöholm, Mormors Systrar and Cobra Charlie.
What is it that makes Gbg different from other major Swedish cities?
What sets Göteborg apart from all other Swedish cities is that, statistically, one person gets hit by a tram here every day of the year. We live in constant fear of these huge monsters! And fear generates creativity and fellowship!
How about if you were hosting an out-of-town visitor- what are the must-see places you would take them?
I would take him or her to the harbour. We have the biggest harbour in Scandinavia and it's located right in the city center (there are both pros and cons about that). Harbours are exciting. I would show the visitor the 'Broder Daniel-crane' and where they shot the video for "Shoreline". Then we would go to see a concert, of course. Hopefully Koloni would be arranging something that evening. If not, I would take my guest to Klubb Sandviken, the club run by me and my girlfriend. Needless to say, it's the best club in town. :-)
I know are a champion of many local Gbg acts- who are a few (more) of your current personal favorites?
Love & Happiness, Tilde Hjelm, a guy called Jesper from Frölunda (a Göteborg suburb) and Pats, the singer from Hospitalle who is now writing songs in Swedish. The last two have no MySpace pages... yet.
Of those favorites, got a particular song you'd like to share?
"Stop, wait or go" by Love & Happiness.
Listen below...
Love & Happiness - Stop, wait or go
Swedish goth/postpunk act Pen Expers has announced that their sophomore album "Baby's gone straight" will be released on April 2 via I-Ration Records. Download the first single "Switch" right here or stream it at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/penexpersband
Pen Expers report that they've completed work on their second album "Baby's gone straight". No word on a release date yet, but I'll let you know.
Swedish postpunk act Pen Expers is blogging while recording their sophomore album at Svenska Grammofonstudion in Göteborg: http://blog.penexpers.com/
Drummer Anders Mold has left indierock act Moulds Room to go play for gothic post-punks Pen Expers.
As far as Joy Division imitators go, at least Pen Expers tries to get the production right. The vocals however, are a different story. Ian Curtis' voice is full of morose and gloom whereas Alexander Arvman of Pen Expers is all warble and whine. It's Joy Division by way of Interpol, but far more affected. I don't think I'd be so hard of these guys if their sound wasn't so played out, but c'mon - we're moving on to 4th generation copies of copies here. If it wasn't for the raw, spacious production I doubt I'd even rate this at all. I have to say though, it's worth commending them for their guitar arrangements as they do a good job of knowing when not to play. That's a talent that's far too underrated. Otherwise, forget about it. Listen to the originals instead.
Pen Expers - The screen in my head
Pen Expers