Label: Hybris
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9
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
9
No rest for the wicked! After giving us the best album of last year ("Jag vet hur man väntar"), Vapnet have now "done an Arctic Monkeys" and released a mini-album (hopefully they will do another "Arctic Monkeys" and release their second full length album this year as well). There are five proper songs on the album - one The Avalanches-like number, and an instrumental outro (which I guess is a version of "Tjernobyl") There is also a song sung by Jens Lekman, which I didn't like at first, but has started to grow on me. The other four songs are of the highest quality. "Tjernobyl" sounds like a song I would consider doing one of those audio tattoos of, in my ear, if those things existed. "Förtjäna mig själv" ("Deserve myself") is another knockout track, with classic Vapnet lyrics and a girl going "baa-ba-ba" in the background during the chorus. I think I love Vapnet more than ice cream.
- Simon Tagestam
8
It's a hit! Four tracks of steamy r&b pop (plus an additional remix) really sets the standard for Juvelen. "Watch your step", "Summer spring" and "Of course I remember" are three slow-moving tracks meant to be played post-late night soirées, preferibly with a glass of wine and that special someone you've been making eyes with all night; and the Revl9n remix of "Watch your step" is a deconstructivists fantasy. However, the true centerpiece (and aptly-placed middle track) of this set is "Hanna", a dance-floor gem brimming will pulsing bass and drums. I've quickly become convinced that Juvelen could very well be on his way to pop stardom.
- Matt Giordano
It's always hard when an album comes out at the end of the year, and how to judge it. However, it clicked with me with last weekend when I was riding on the train and just staring out into the space beyond the window. Winter is almost here, it's a cold and overcast fall day and Sibiria has just released easily the most devastatingly beautiful record of the year. Tracks like "Det har varit svårare", "Kompistjyv" and "Inte prata med främlingar" instantly struck chords with me; and the instrumental "Paria" is downright gorgeous. Actually, everything about this release is just beautiful. Congratulations Sibiria, you have created one of the best indiepop albums of the year.
- Matt Giordano
Cover records are always a bit hard to review. The Sweptaways are a 28-piece all-female choral group, and to hear them cover Kiss ("I want you"), Black Sabbath ("Changes") and the Pet Shop Boys ("Gowest") is quite refreshing. This album works well as a straigh-through listen (although at 28 minutes, it still can be a bit overwhelming) or when you pair up the covers with the originals. This record won't be accessible by all, but those to whom it will appeal with enjoy it thoroughly for the strength of performance and the interpretations.
- Matt Giordano
Ah yes, the Biker Boy EP. Peter Lundbergh devliers to his public four stellar tracks of electronic pop music. Akin to the Pet Shop Boys and The Smiths, Lundbergh's music possesses lighthearted playful melodies and danceable instrumentation with the vocal delivery combination of a Morrissey croon and the spoken aspect of Nick Cave, albeit in a slightly more pained aspect. While the four remixes of "You got me wrong" may seem a bit much, especially listened to in succession, each on their own is a standout track and a great bonus to those who purchase the disc.
- Matt Giordano
Everytime I hear a new record released by Hyrbis, it gets me thinking that not only is Hybris one of the most ambitious pop labels on the planet right now, but also one of the best. Kalle J's full-length exudes masterful pop songwriting and tight song structures. Standout tracks include "Akademisk", "B.G.I.T." and "Burt Ward"; however, it'd be hard to claim one track to be the best, as the album is solid the whole way through. The songs have enough tempo to become hits in all of the discotheques, if not just in Sweden, but all the world over. I'm guessing that Nick, Jason and the IAT! DJs have been playing these tracks at Tack! Tack! Tack! and other festivals, but it is about time for other purveyors of electronic pop to take notice.
- Matt Giordano
I know I've said before, and I'll say it again. What so many Swedish electronic-based acts are gifted at is evoking a warmth that is normally absent from the icy cold genre. This is proven on Biker Boy's new EP, on which the title tracks bubbles along a jaunty pace with the narrator expressing his concern for his lover getting the wrong end of the stick. It is heavily influenced by the Pet Shop Boys, but it's not exactly Che Guevara set to a disco beat, and is more reminiscent of the British duo's more frothy moments. Not a bad thing at all. "Are you going to be the one?" adds as selection of synthesized strings to Biker Boy's palette and cumulatively is the most ballad-like track on this collection. "I was only joking" is a perfect song for the end of the summer. It's both euphoric and moody at the same time. The EP also features an excellent remix package courtesy of Le Sport, Vapnet, Bremen and Kalle J. Pick of the bunch is the Bremen remix which features beats and synths reminiscent of Audio Bullys.
- Nick Levine
After delivering the spectacular debut "Drama", what does David Pagmar give us? Why young reader, he comes through with the first installment of proper new material. The first track on the EP, "1969", is in similar vein as his debut, but is much more fleshed out with horns fully complimenting the vocal melodies, as well as carrying his ideas to new heights. Now the second track is really where Mr. Pagmar shows his wild side. "My girlfiend is in the Grand Prix finals" is a full-on dance assault, and I'm sure the IAT! DJs will be spinning this ridiculously catchy and fun track at Tack! Tack! Tack! for months to come, and it will be a massive hit. The third track "The pilot" begins with a slight Postal Service-sounding introduction, but quickly breaks into a mid-eighties Michael Jackson meets KC and the Sunshine Band disco synth pop masterpiece with hooks abound. And the closing track, "The memoirs of a never doubting scientist," is a soft ballad, sung in the falsetto whisper we've all come to love. Overall, and maybe due in part to the fantastic interview, but mainly because of his great songwriting, I've found myself listening to this EP at least once a day for the past couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to what comes our way next.
- Matt Giordano
Based on Simon's two previous reviews, I got really excited to finally hear this band. Their debut full-length album is quite the release and the single "Thoméegränd" is one of the catchiest songs of the year. The instrumentation throughout is upbeat and happy and the melodies are fantastic. This album is a great indie/lo-fi/twee/dance album and, although the record is short, it's a pure pop gem. Anyone to pass on it is a fool.
- Matt Giordano
Add my voice to the chorus singing the praises of this record. Everyone else compares them to the Pixies, but to these ears they're more reminiscent of sounds a little earlier in the 80s -- the off-kilter yet powerfully melodic pop of the Go-Betweens circa 1983-1985 where dischordant notes careened off of one another, time signatures shifted mid-song, and what seemed at first to be quasi-random messes revealed themselves on repeated listenings to be nuanced, intricate, and brilliantly crafted. Not a note on this record is where you expect it to be, instruments and vocals (both male and female) play off one another as much as they play with one another. It's unsettling and subversively catchy, intellectually intruiging and gut level appealing. Highly recommended.
- Nancy Baym
Vapnet's EP "Ge dom våld" was one record that I played to death last year. The EP works as a sort of safety blanket for me nowadays, whenever I feel a bit down or if I just crave a quick fix of good music, I put it on. My hopes for their forthcoming album are obviously insanely high, but if the songs on it are as good as (their latest release) "Thoméegränd" or the ones on "Ge dom våld", it could end up being one of my favourite albums ever. This EP also contains a bunch of remixes (by such prominent acts as Le Sport, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, etc.) which are fun and interesting, but not as satisfactory as new "proper" songs by Vapnet themselves.
- Simon Tagestam
There's been a lot of talk about how former Popsicle front man Andreas Mattsson, who after Popsicle's demise has spent some of his time writing songs for dodgy pop acts, now is going on tour with critically acclaimed 'noise artists' Tape, and how his first solo album starts with a five-minute instrumental piece (how innovative!). Me, I've been a Popsicle fan as long as I can remember (thanks to my sisters), and with last year's compilation "The good side of Popsicle" my interest in them was suddenly rekindled. "The lawlessness..." is obviously a blessing then, especially since it almost sounds like a straightforward follow up to Popsicle's last album (and their masterpiece) "Stand up and testify". Mattsson's voice, (sad) lyrics, and (gorgeous) melodies haven't changed that much at all – and thank god for that!
- Simon Tagestam
This latest release from Sarah Assbring (aka El Perro Del Mar) isn't that different from her previous ones, but it's thankfully another step towards perfection. The title track itself is one of my favorite songs at the moment to hum along to while doing household chores, and "Do the dog" – the second track – is equally catchy and if there's a dance to go with it, I want someone to teach it to me. With Christmas now gone and winter torturing our souls with cold winds and dark days, we can hide under blankets, drink hot chocolate, listen to El Perro Del Mar, and smile enough to make the sun blush.
- Simon Tagestam
With a chorus borrowed from a song by The Tough Alliance and songs sounding like a mix between Jens Lekman and Moneybrother, this album could hardly have been done any other time and place than in Sweden 2005. But even though "Drama" is a very timely album, David Pagmar (who is Montt Mardié) has also constructed a great piece of music, in fact one of the best this year! There are some really outstanding "souly" tracks on here (e.g. "Huckleberry friend" - one of my favourite songs of 2005), and also a bunch of uptempo ones, and at the end of the album we get treated to a magnificent cover of Håkan Hellström's sucker punch of a song "Kom igen Lena" shrewdly called "Come on Eileen", which is done in a beautiful stripped-down fashion. I love this album and if I had the money and time I'd spend the rest of the year dressed up as Santa and walk around the streets giving away copies of it out to everyone I met.
- Simon Tagestam
Montt Mardié
Vapnet
Juvelen
Sibiria
The Sweptaways
Biker Boy
Kalle J
Montt Mardié
Vapnet
Hell on Wheels
Vapnet
Andreas Mattsson
El Perro Del Mar
Montt Mardié
