The title track is a catchy little rocker. The beat is driving and the vocals are just gruff on the chorus enough to give the tune a bit more extra power than you'd normally expect to hear from these guys. Nice stuff. The b-sides however, well... they're b-sides. There's a good reason they didn't make the final cut for the forthcoming album.
- Avi Roig
El Perro Del MarThis 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
Ack! Someone put white-boy funk in my indierock! Actually, this isn't so bad. I've heard many similar, far more acclaimed bands that I found to be much, much worse. Still, don't look for these guys to be burning up the charts anytime soon. The music is decent, but the vocals are far from inspiring. His limited range isn't so much a problem as he just doesn't have the charisma to front a band of this style. Funk calls for personality and style, En Garde doesn't have it.
- Avi Roig
I guess we'll always have Paris. That is, bands LIKE Paris that are pretty good, pretty talented, pretty nice to listen to, but somehow a little less than transcendent. This Swedish quartet have made a second album that would be the envy of many lesser bands. The rhythm section is crack, and Annika's pipes are pleasing if sorta rote. Tunes alternate between ringing indie rock ala Elastica, Ladytron and a few others, and Annie-esque dance-pop like "60 minutes" and "Ladies man." And I dig the chiming guitars and retro-delica feel of "Something has to be done" very much. It all sounds dandy on the car stereo as you're zipping down the road, but I don't know...I just wasn't moved by Paris much. The down side of there being so many superb bands in Sweden is that you can be a perfectly fine little outfit, but if you don't have that extra edge, you suffer by comparison. And I just don't hear the edge in this band...not yet. Still better than lots of similar British and American bands, though. maybe it'll be a grower, we'll see...
- Kevin Renick
Since I don't speak Swedish or any other Scandinavian language, it's sometimes difficult to find out information on bands that don't have an English version of their website. With folk/pop quintet Raymond & maria, the website confirmed that "maria" is the main vocalist, but I have no idea who "Raymond" is; the other band members are Camilla, Per, Johan and Staffan. maybe it's some conceptual thing, I dunno. At any rate, this is a pleasant, melodic recording with seven tunes sung in English and three in Swedish. If the Indigo Girls knew when to end a song and had more vocal finesse, they might sound a bit like Raymond & maria (also if they'd listened to a Blondie record or two). maria has a sweet, natural voice and it makes the ear-friendly melodies of tunes like "No one notices your brand your new t-shirt" (terrific song), "They love you" and "Dumb again" just soar. With hand-clap percussion and crisply recorded acoustic strumming, these bouncy songs keep you hooked while an underlying sense of familiarity will have you wondering where you've heard the melodies before. You probably haven't, but once the modest charms of this disc take hold, you're liable to get very familiar with Raymond and maria's ingratiating sound. Nice, sunny day acoustic pop.
[ed: I do believe that this disc is a special int'l promo compiling the group's newer English-language material with a few older Swedish tracks.]
- Kevin Renick
One musician taking charge of their personal arsenal of technology can be a mighty impressive thing. Sophie Rimheden, one of Sweden's cutting-edge electronica artists, creates a dizzying mix of sound on her self-titled third album, yet there's a clear sense of purpose and a tight focus that prevent the disc from ever sounding self-indulgent (a problem I had with some tracks on her previous album). Rimheden employs a trademark multi-tracked harmony sound on these 13 tracks which is often deliriously enjoyable, along with peppy rhythms and fairly straightforward synths. But the arrangements are certainly not formulaic. my favorite song is "The real way," a genuine classic on which a rather eccentric lead vocal, a cool chugging rhythm track and a layered harmony chorus combine to spine-tingling effect. The infectious "ba ba's" and simple rhythms that permeate this record show a disciplined craftswoman at work, while there are curious surprises in the arrangements and overall mix. You're loopy in the best way, Sophie, m'dear, and this is a nifty little platter.
- Kevin Renick
By the time I discovered Nicolai Dunger he was already on his third album, the excellent "This cloud is learning". "Soul rush" came out soon after (I was already late with the previous record) and the combined grandeur of those two records sealed it: I was impressed. So of course I started to poke around his earlier discography and was moved considerably by what I found. The musician I thought was a retro-folkie/Donovan-throwback was actually a formidable experimental musician, willing to dabble in many genres and play around with all sorts of interesting textures and arrangements. It's no wonder he never got much attention until he toned it done with the records I heard first - this is not accessible pop. It's not so surprising for people getting into Dunger today; his experimentations are now well-known and celebrated - the upcoming Edith Södergran tribute is just one example. I can't say that all his dabblings have been successful to my ears, but I applaud him for trying. It's much more risk than most musicians are willing to take on. So today here's a track from his first record "Songs wearing clothes". The guitars are distorted and King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp lends his patented 'Frippertronics' to the proceedings. Even if you're not into that sort of thing, it's worth listening to just to experience Dunger's expanse of talent.
If I may direct your attention to the right, you'll see that there's m/index.php?article=157">a new interview posted with The State of Samuel. Be sure to check it out.
Finnish electronic artist mr. Velcro Fastner has a new website: mrvelcrofastener.com/" target=_blank>https://www.mrvelcrofastener.com/
Check out a video from moHa!: m/files/moha2.mov" target=_blank>https://www.n-collective.com/files/moha2.mov
The duo's debut album comes out January 24 via Rune Grammofon.
Upcoming releases on the way in 2006 from Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie:
Popface - Eleven Pieces Of A Broken Heart - 02/20
Jackman - tba - 03/06
The Colors Turned RedTHE COLORS TURNED RED - All The Way Up - 03/13
Thomas Dybdahl - tba - fall 2006
mayflies - tba - fall 2006
more details: https://www.checkpoint.no/
NorthSide reports that they will be releasing a new Gjallerhorn album "Rimfaxe" this coming fall. Look for a US tour as well.
Gluecifer may be dead and gone, but that's not gonna stop them from putting out more records. Captain Poon is currently compiling a "best-of" record which will also include a bonus disc of obscure and unreleased material. And don't forget the promised DVD from the final show at Sentum, too. Also in the works are reissues of the band's first three records "Ridin’ the tiger", "Soaring with eagles at night" and "Tender is the savage". more info tba.