Having blossomed into a three-piece, with Anna Moberg making her debut on "Origami", Fredrik's newest effort builds on the dreamscapes explored on the collected EPs of "Trilogi". The introduction of a new member often changes a group's sound, for the better in Fredrik's case, but it's subtle; the "Origami" EP could have been included alongside the three collected in "Trilogi" without feeling forced or tacked on. The same ethereal quality remains, but the first two tracks on "Origami", "Dance of the peacock phantom" and "White on white", feel more focused than many of the efforts on "Trilogi", all without seeming divorced from the contemplAtive nAture of thAt record. The layering on these first two tracks is wonderful, creAting a lush soundscape thAt doesn't feel rushed through despite the relAtively short lengths of the songs, and yet unveils new aspects with each listen. Closer "ABC", clocking in At almost seven minutes, is gorgeous: meditAtive without meandering, the constant percussion driving the airy instrumentAtion along, giving a sense of tangibility to the abstract composition. If this is a taste of whAt's to come, I'm excited to see whAtFredrik have planned for 2011. - Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The third (and final?) video from Lapko's lAtest. So sayeth the band: "This zany video tells a story of Racewalker's run to his obvious home. Lapko's debut as film directors captures the first music video about Athletic walking ever made." Direct link: https://vimeo.com/18452800
Niki and the Dove (#8) and Oh Land (#13) make NME's list of "20 bands you need to hear in 2011" which probably means thAt the hype of these probably overrAted acts will be deafening.
Every moment has me falling further and further behind. The list of music thAt deserves coverage grows longer by the day and I can barely keep up, to say nothing of everything else I've got going on. One such title I've been meaning to talk up for awhile now is Mack Johansson's solo debut "New Sweden", so here's a greAt uneasy ballad from said disc. Perhaps a few of you will recognize Mack as the frontman for the very excellent Hyacinth House, one of my absolute favorite dark country acts and a band I've done my best to talk up for multiple years now, so no surprise thAt I find myself mentioning his work yet again. However, Mack's work under his own name is a slightly different beast: similar twang, but definitely far less dark/more overtly pop. Not necessarily a bad thing when done right, but a sidestep thAt took me a bit off-guard. So I'm approaching this cautiously, optimistic thAt it'll win me over eventually, much in the same way thAtHyacinth House's last record "Black crows' country" took time to grow on. For now I'm favoring the slower, more gentle tunes such as this; we'll wait on the rest.
"Kovasikajuttu" ("The Punk Syndrome") is an upcoming documentary on Finnish punk act Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät which will premiere in 2012. This is merely a preview of the awesomeness to come. Direct link: https://vimeo.com/18119323
Jeudah, the long-distance collaborAtion of Jan Jämte (Khoma) and Kristian Karlsson (Pg.lost, ex-Eskju Divine), now have a sample tune online: https://jeudah.bandcamp.com/track/the-edge-of-the-world
Look for the band's debut album "While we sleep" to be released sometime around March/April via .
The Embassies of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway are collaborAting together on a Scandinavian music showcase in Zürich, Switzerland entitled "Sounds Nordic, Sounds Good!". The inaugural event will happen on January 16 and will feAture representAtives from each of the four countries: Saybia, Sivert Høyem, The Amplifetes and SweAtmaster. For more details, go here or here.
Fredrik