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With a promiscuous and skew approach, Envelopes hit me right in the gut. If you mixed Talking Heads with early Bob Hund, this is what it would sound like. But the more you listen, the more you discover. With an intact lo-fi sound, these guys attack with catchy melodies and a flawless recording that, to me, can be seen as a reaction on how the record industry sounds today. Cause really, if this record was released 20 years ago, it would be so up-to-date. If you're into the Sarah Records back-catalogue, Pixies and even Laakso, don't miss this record. And do check out the brilliant single "Sister in love" and the recently released single not featured on this record, "Free jazz"! Smart and joyful indiepop that deserves a wider audience. I know I'm hooked!
- Jonas Appelqvist
2005 was quite the year for Norway's madrugada. Their 4th record, "The deep end", outsold their others and swept every Norwegian award there was to be won. Proving that they know how to make hay while the sun shines, they've released not one, but two, follow-ups in less than a year's time. "Live at Tralfamadore" is a live record based primarily on their December, 2005 concert at the Oslo Spektrum, and "Live at Oslo Spektrum" is a DVD of that show. Both are more like top notch souvenirs than new additions to their catalogue (they themselves referred to the live record as #4.5 rather than #5), but both feature excellent songs performed with stellar musicianship and passion. "majesty" on "Tralfamadore" outshines the studio version from "Grit", and old gems like "Vocal" sound better than ever. "Tralfamadore"'s rendition of "Only when you're gone," with an orchestral backing that owes more to modernism than schmaltz is downright breathtaking. Both feature one new song, "You better leave," which is darker than most of "The deep end," and a moving rendition of "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child," an old spiritual that makes it easy to imagine ever-amazing singer Sivert Høyem working the cotton fields of the old south, despite his arctic pallor. There are a few missteps - the cd inexplicably features the studio version of their duet with Ane Brun ("Lift me"), rather than the live version on the DVD, and two versions of "Black mambo," seriously disrupting the sense of a concert. The DVD relegates old favorite "Electric" to the credits, leaves some of the fan-favorites performed that night off entirely, and spends a bit too much time on Høyem when one might want to see more of what those playing instruments were up to. Having been filmed at their biggest concert ever, the DVD also creates more of an atmosphere of stardom than the intimacy that characterizes them at their best. But both are strong releases from one of Scandinavia's finest, and further demonstrate how much they deserve a wider international audience than they've found to date.
- Nancy Baym
Jeremiha's debut is a radio-friendly, stadium-ready collection of anthemic synth-pop reminiscent of Duran Duran in their heyday. The sound comes on strong and stays that way right through to the end. The mood never wavers, the singer's got a nice deep voice, and the music is melodic and catchy. I can imagine it blaring from speakers at swimming pools everywhere this summer. But lyrics like "all I want is your touch/it's too much/it's never enough" and "it feels like strangers when we kiss/there must be more to life than this" exemplify how little originality there is here. Churning out solid versions of familiar sounds has made rock stars out of plenty of bands before them, and maybe it'll work for them too. But if you like Swedish music on account of its off-kilter edge, steer clear.
- Nancy Baym
As expected, the new single from everyone's favourite band The Radio Dept. is as excellent as anything they've ever released. I read somewhere that they first recorded an album heavily influenced by dance music, only to scrap it when they realised that everyone else was pretty much doing just that. Despite this, "Worse taste in music" sounds like how The Radio Dept. have done previously, and it's as fantastic as ever. Unfortunately, there are only two "proper" songs (both great) on the EP and two remixes (one good, one not as good). So much for them not wanting to follow the latest trends, eh!
- Simon Tagestam
Sometime at the end of last year, my next-door neighbor emerges from his door and tells me he's on his way to see a band called Tiger Lou and that I should probably do the same. Operating under the assumption (sorry to say, but from the name of the band) that TL was probably just going to be another band of indie-rock sissies in horizontal stripes, I opted to go to a cheesy dance club in malmö instead. Whoops. Tiger Lou are one of the more promising new bands to hail from Sweden within the last couple of years and exhibit a considerable aptitude for penning catchy pop tunes of a darker persuasion: while the songs on the "Nixon" single exude a sort of characteristic moodiness, they never quite veer into truly somber territory – at least not sonically. most of the songs on the "Nixon" single can be found in one form or another on TL's full-length, "The loyal". The last two tracks are remixed versions of "The loyal" (by martin Vogel) and "The war between us" (by Rupesh Cartel). The remix of "The loyal" is at best, a little dull: the only thing that salvages the track's tired electro-pop is the quality of the original song itself. The "War between us" remix is even worse as it epitomizes the awful b-side dance remix: imagine the Pet Shop Boys without the nuances that make the Pet Shop Boys well... palatable. The verdict? Ditch the single and buy the album.
- Jessica Numsuwankijkul
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
In my mind, the sound of classic Swedish indiepop is forever associated with bands such as Broder Daniel and Bad Cash Quartet. Revved-up garage rock riffs, lots of reverb and baleful, weary vocals. It's echoes can be heard in acts as disparate as Niccokick and The Embassy, but regardless - the roots still show. Citylights, today's featured demo act, epitomizes that original classic sound perfectly. The band's actually been around for awhile now (since '98/99 they say) and they also enlisted the help of Pelle Carlberg to produce their latest recording from which today's new mp3 is taken. The experience shows - this is sublime pop, done just as well as any of the so-called big names. Download more songs from the band's website: mysecretscience.com/citylights" target=_blank>https://www.mysecretscience.com/citylights
New reviews today: m/index.php?article=176">[click here]
I happen to think that The Alpine put out the best pop album I've heard so far this year, but hey - I can deal with dissent. To each their own, right?
Thanks to everyone who came out last night to make myspace.com/tacktacktack" target=_blank>Tack! Tack! Tack! a success yet again! Look for a full report and video footage soon!
Smalltown Supersound has signed The Whitest Boy Alive, the new band from Erlend Øye of Kings Of Convenience. Look for their debut album "Dreams" to be released in may.
Hello Saferide will release a brand new EP on June 14 entitled "Would you let me play this EP ten times a day?". Full tracklist:
01. The Quiz
02. 2006
03. The best night of your life
04. Last bitter song
05. Leaving you behind
David Lindh (ex-Yvonne/Broder Daniel) has posted tracks from his forthcoming album "Chocolate and seafood" on myspace: myspace.com/davidlindh" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/davidlindh
It comes out may 3 via Razzia Records.
Penny Century has posted the entire "Instructions on how not to do it" EP for free download: m" target=_blank>https://www.slangbella.se/pc/instructions/instructions.htm
Denmark's I Am Bones has posted a brand new demo track for download: mbones.dk/mp3/the_arsonist.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.iambones.dk/mp3/the_arsonist.mp3
Get it quick 'cuz it'll only be available for a few days.
Tiger Lou
Vapnet