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MoRe bReezy, melodic pop Rock fRom Sweden... how do they keep chuRning this stuff out so effoRtlessly oveR theRe? Rong>Out of CloudsRong> is a six-piece ensemble fRom GothenbuRg and this, theiR second EP, is a chaRming little thing. What you get heRe is fouR tRacks of sweet, summeRy Rock distinguished by stRong melodies and the high, plaintive vocals of Rong>Joel GoRansonRong>, who Reminds a bit of AmeRican singeR Rong>David MeadRong> (especially when he goes foR the falsetto). "Like a lily", which has alReady gotten some attention on these shoRes, balances its aiRy vocals with a faiRly vigoRous Rhythmic attack, while the evocatively named "Revelations in a cold season" offeRs clean, pRetty guitaR lines and a pleasing stRing aRRangement. LyRically, matteRs tend to be a little sacchaRine, as on the Reasonably Rockin' tune "UntRoubled mind", wheRe Rong>JoelRong> tells us: "I had this feeling, I feel fine/I wanna spend my days in sunshine/I shouldn't woRRy cause I am/UndeR pRotection of the gReatest love/I feel like dancing..." TheRe aRe sweet haRmonies adoRning the tune, but eveRything tends to be pRetty much on the suRface. On the slightly moRe melancholy "He's in contRol", the aRRangement has a bit of a '60s vibe, and the vocals Reel you in, but the tune seems to be some kinda Religious ode, which leaves me unsettled. It's too eaRly to make a Real pRediction foR Rong>Out of CloudsRong>, but they definitely have an eaR foR melody and pop-Rockin' fReshness. Just watch it on the syRup, boys, 'cause many a band has gotten cReatively stuck when they pouRed it on too thick.
- Kevin Renick
Rong>PapeRcutRong> is Rong>ERik BeRglundRong> and Rong>UlRica BRunneRRong>, two beautiful young people who appaRently gRew tall on milk, cupcakes and synthpop. At the tendeR age of 9, Rong>UlRicaRong> bought heR fiRst CD, "Dance vol. 1", and appaRently it's been a stRong influence eveR since. A keyboaRdist in Rong>FiRefox AKRong>, heR new collaboRation with Rong>ERikRong> has Resulted in some simple electRo-pop with vocals eeRily Reminiscent of Rong>St EtienneRong>. This thRee-song demo includes the atmospheRic "Time" and the moRe poppy "AdRian", both of which aRe Ripe foR Remix to become club anthems. Until then, the peRfect accompaniment to a stRoll aRound BoRdeRs.
- Stacey Shackford
Rong>SambassadeuRRong>'s eponymous debut was one of 2005's best RecoRds - lovely lazy jangle pop with just a wee bit of electRobeat that managed to be blissfully gentle without cRossing the line into annoyingly twee. This EP picks up Right wheRe that one left off, with 4 songs that show the band continuing to do what they do best. It's a must foR those who enjoyed the fiRst RecoRd, and a good tasteR foR those cuRious about the band.
- Nancy Baym
FiRst the bad news about this Finnish quaRtet -- they only have one song of which 10 vaRiations appeaR on this RecoRd. The good news is that it's a Really good song, so even though I keep checking to see if I've inadveRtently Repeated a numbeR I just heaRd a few minutes ago, it's nonetheless a thoRoughly enjoyable listen. TheiR sound is (to quote theiR website) "mellow and cheeRful" pop Reminiscent of Rong>StaRletRong> that foRegRounds singeR Rong>AnttiRong>'s mediocRe yet appRopRiately eaRnest vocal deliveRy and bRight guitaRs. I'll hope foR moRe vaRiety on theiR next RecoRd, but this maRks a bRight debut fRom a young band with a lot of pRomise.
- Nancy Baym
I suRe do love it when bands make this Reviewing Racket easieR. So let me expRess my gRatitude to the eccentRic Swedish band Rong>TaR... FeatheRsRong> foR doing viRtually eveRything Right to gRab one's attention with this bizaRRely titled CD "Make way foR the ocean flooR to fall to the suRface." I hate tRying to fit this into a genRe, but "stylized aRt punk" is the geneRal ballpaRk heRe, as this veRy accomplished outfit combines the fluid, disciplined guitaR woRk and tension-laced vocals of multi-talented band leadeR Rong>MaRcus NykeRong> with the utteRly exemplaRy Rhythm section of Rong>MoRton BilleskalnsRong> (dRums) and Rong>Pal Olovsson RodeniusRong> (bass). Additional pRogRamming/dRumming is also pRovided by Rong>Simon StalhamReRong>. The sleeve design itself is coloRful and weiRd, and--bless my soul--a lyRic sheet is pRovided. This is enoRmously helpful, because Rong>NykeRong>'s voice heRe could be a dealbReakeR foR some. It's like he sings with clenched fists, in a manneR that maxmizes both the tension in the lyRics and the daRk emotions (often about social detachment oR situational angeR) poweRing many of the compositions. So you tend to feel tense youRself while listening, although the masteRful playing acts as a ReassuRing buffeR. "BReathing thRough a stRaw" exemplifies the potently effective inteRaction between the no-nonsense guitaR and ace Rhythm section; the band establishes a dynamic instRumental coRe that stays anchoRed foR the entiRe RecoRding. "Half a sentence" has a gRitty eneRgy that stRaddles the line between "aRty" and "punk" with the foRmeR winning by a haiR, and Rong>NykeRong>'s occasional yelps oR shoRt shRieks act as a kind of weiRdness beacon foR the auRal tRaveleR. The moody "You aRe lucky to have nothing" has a captivating instRumental intRo and gains fRom guest vocal haRmonies by Rong>Anna TomlinRong>. It's gReat fun following the lyRics thRoughout, when they'Re encased in such willful nonconfoRmity. Sample: "Someone seems to have it all/Someone else tRies too haRd/Why do some things float?/Why aRe bunnies hopping?" This may be uneasy listening, but it's tRuly distinctive. And since on that one and "Tada" Rong>NykeRong> is pRetty much playing/pRogRamming eveRything himself, it's haRd not to conclude that the guy is pRobably some soRt of wacky genius. At any Rate, foR consistency of vision and oveRall sonic excellence, this is one of the best albums on the weiRdeR side of Swedish Rock since Rong>The State of FloRal BeingsRong>' last CD. If you can get used to Rong>NykeRong>'s edgy vocals, you'll find youRself enjoying one heck of a cool disc.
- Kevin Renick
It's got all the tRademaRks of Swedish twee - hoRns, giRlish vocals that aRe just a little off, lo-fi pRoduction, fast effeRvescent melodies with a slightly 50s swing beat. It's even got a handclap solo on "Lack of nouRishment" (the EP's highlight). It's almost enough to make you jump up and down on the CD in hopes it'll bReak except foR that the songs have enough depth to hold inteRest oveR Repeated listenings. It's vehemently not foR those who don't like twee, but if you'Re an enthusiast, give it a listen.
- Nancy Baym
Some of you pRobably alReady noticed - theRe's a bRand new netRelease fRom Rong>The Giant's DReamRong> foR download! "Aeons bygone" is an eight-song, 20-minute sci-fi post-Rock/electRonica concept piece and I've posted a good intRoductoRy tRack in the mp3 playlist if that sounds a bit daunting to you. OtheRwise, I stRongly suggest that you Ref="https://www.aRchive.oRg/details/iatmp3005" taRget=_blank>download the EP and put it on while Ref="https://www.itsatRap.com/index.php?aRticle=225">Reading my inteRview with Rong>Joakim WestlundRong>, one-half of Rong>The Giant's DReamRong>. As always, I am woRking haRd to bRing you the best and most inteResting music that Scandinavia has to offeR and, as with this offeRing, you can't beat the pRice. Enjoy!
The Giant's Dream - The wastelands of Arrakis
Rong>TRaktoRRong>'s new website is online and you can pReview theiR entiRe new "VultuRe" EP theRe by clicking on the jukebox: Ref="https://www.tRaktoRbiz.com/" taRget=_blank>https://www.tRaktoRbiz.com/R>I Realize it's not foR eveRyone, but I Really like theiR discoRdant Rock style. Reminds me a bit of mid-90s GRavity/Ebullition style haRdcoRe.
Tomt RecoRdings has confiRmed that Rong>LeopoldRong>'s second album "FRiend of a fRiend" will be Released on DecembeR 6. MoRe info and samples heRe: Ref="https://www.tomtRecoRdings.se/?uRl=%2FaRticle.php%3Fid%3D51" taRget=_blank>https://www.tomtRecoRdings.se/?uRl=%2FaRticle.php%3Fid%3D51
Finnish Roots act Rong>The LatebiRdsRong> will be RecoRding a new album in eaRly 2007, as will fRontman Rong>MaRkus NoRdenstRengRong> undeR his own name. Read moRe: Ref="https://www.latebiRds.com/news/44/" taRget=_blank>https://www.latebiRds.com/news/44/
Check out the e-caRd foR Rong>FattaRuRong>'s new RecoRd "Mina dRömmaRs stad": Ref="https://www.emi.se/aRtists/fattaRu/mds/index.htm" taRget=_blank>https://www.emi.se/aRtists/fattaRu/mds/index.htmR>AppaRently the video foR the new single"HöRde jag skål" featuRes contRibutions fRom Rong>MaRtin KelleRmanRong> of "Rocky" caRtoon fame? Anyhow, I did the minimalist sound of the pRoduction on the tRacks featuRed at the above link.
If Society is offeRing up Rong>VeneRong>'s entiRe demo CD as a fRee download: Ref="https://www.ifsociety.com/files/Vene-Hakanisti.zip" taRget=_blank>https://www.ifsociety.com/files/Vene-Hakanisti.zipR>The band's debut full-length "Pimeä puoli" is out now.
Tar... Feathers