Scapesonik will be heading over to Japan for a few gigs in November:
11/05 - Plasma @ Shibuya Deseo, Tokyo
11/07 - Toyo High School, Tokyo (not public)
11/07 - Swedish Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
The band's debut five-track EP "Starting to know you now" comes out on November 7 via Lobotom Records. Listen to a sample here: m/mp3/scapesonik_starting_(sample).mp3" target=_blank>https://www.scapesonik.com/mp3/scapesonik_starting_(sample).mp3
This week's top artists for the m/group/itsatrap" target=_blank>It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:
01. The Cardigans
02. I'm from Barcelona
03. Sufjan Stevens
04. Franz Ferdinand
05. The Bear Quartet
06. Death Cab for Cutie
07. The Decemberists
08. Coldplay
09. Kent
Do you listen to music on your computer? Join us and share your playlists! Go here to learn more: m/help/" target=_blank>https://www.last.fm/help/
Plugged Records fall release schedule:
11/30 - The Ackermans "By me and you" CDS
12/07 - The Ackermans "No one knows us better than The Ackermans" CD
12/07 - Private Angus "Your song" CDS
12/07 - Fuelhead "Little ones" CDS
Quoteth IAT contributor Jason Christie:
Either way it is immaterial when we put "mopeds + Review" in the same bracket - you see, you'll know The mopeds are no upstarts. It can be said they’re a well respected non-Stockholm band. They feature majestic trombonist and everyone's favourite producer/horn player Jens Lindgård (Bob Hund, The Cardigans, Eggstone, Tom Jones, Roxette, Ulf Lundell, St. Etienne, and many more. more recently you have heard them play with the band David & the Citizens and Damn!). m/search?hl=en&q=Jens+Lindg%C3%A5rd&btnG=Google+Search" target=_blank>Just Google "Jens Lindgård" for a long list of credits. The new disc, what's the deal?
No bloody idea. Have not listened!
Let's guess. The lazy taglines have them alongside fellow Pågs Brainpool and Eggstone, but we know The mopeds will have gone all mcFly on us instead! mopeds parked up outside the US embassy of radio pop, mTV indie but then with attention to detail "Fortissimo" won't be knocked. They occupy peer status – check that list up above again."Fortissimo" will be fast, it'll be furious, it'll mess with your days and fill your nights. That's if you are done with first and second albums mopeds.com/popup_disco/thehills_jap_disco.html" target=_blank>"The hills are alive with the sound of mopeds" or mopeds.com/popup_disco/the_land_disco.html" target=_blank>"The land of the three" - because without listening, rest assured the review will read positive. There are some things you can rely on.
Couldn't have said it much better myself, and I've actually heard the damn thing. Download a choice track from "Fortissimo" over on the right.
The Mopeds - Refused demo land
Wow, is this a terrific band. "Failures" is my first exposure to The Chrysler and I'm captivated by the interesting vocal blend served up by Anders Rudstrom and Pelle Lindroth. You get one type of distinctive sound when each sings the lead, and another sound when they sing together (a low and mid-range combo). It's winsome melodic pop that's early-spring fresh, just a bit melancholic and laced with a dash of late '60s pastoral psychedelia. I love the nocturnal vibe of "This is midnight", with the muted bass and distant trumpet adorning the sparkling upfront vocal. "Along the freefall" is a lively mid-tempo shuffle, "Ring of a bell" brings on some old-fashioned horns in an unexpected manner and "Damn straight evil" is simply one of the coolest tunes I've heard lately. It's got tastefully minimal acoustic guitar, melodica (actually, the melodica is all over this disc, and I ain't complaining), and flawless lead vocals and harmonies. There is something really beguiling and relaxed about this band that is indefinably unique. And the U.S. release has five sweet (mostly acoustic) bonus tracks. A hearty "thumbs up" for this classic Swedish vehicle known as The Chrysler.
- Kevin Renick
Firefox AKThe musical exploits and talents of the Stockholm Kellermans are well known to IAT! readers, so no one should be surprised that Andrea Kellerman - aka Firefox AK - has concocted some smart and snappy electronic pop on her debut EP "What's that sound". The urgency and range of her voice on the title track ("the sound of his voice/it still rings in my ears/hey, hey, what's that sound?") make for a quick, catchy gem at just under two and a half minutes. "Wonder boy" sounds decidedly new-wave, bouncing along to a heavy electro beat with lush vocals. Things get a little repetitive on "Who can act", but the longer, mid-tempo "Harvey" successfully pairs a strummed acoustic guitar with gliding keyboards and brings this solid first release to a close. Firefox is staying busy, too--a full-length album is in the works, as are more tour dates this fall in Sweden, Germany and Denmark. That's undoubtedly a sign of more good things to come.
- Matthew W. Smith
I was programmed very early in my life not to like country music. Yet in recent years I have taken a liking in old-school country like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and others but I never quite liked any of those alt-country bands too much; Wilco, Neko Case: Not my thing. Hyacinth House manage to get me interested by using the same kind of heartbreak as the old-schoolers, adding a lot of indie-rock and a touch of bluegrass. The result is a very interesting album, if a bit too long, that never strays away from its path, but still takes considerable liberties when it comes to arrangements. Very nice.
- Simon Thibaudeau
LaaksoEven though Laakso's band biography involves several break ups and reunions, it's basically a nice story of Swedish music business success. Their newest album "my gods", a decent interplay of twelve churned up songs, proves this very well: Released by the big label V2, produced by a certain Jari Haapalainen (Yes, right, that's the same guy who has worked with Ed Harcourt, moneybrother, Kristofer Åström and The Concretes) and including some backing vocals by a very certain Nicolai Dunger. Well, of course a record isn't just about some famous names written on the booklet's last page. But even just focusing the music, "my gods" turns out to be a pleasant piece of melodic art. OK, it's probably not the catchiest album that has been released in Sweden during the last months, but still it has everything a good pop CD needs to have: Emotional tunes, guts to try out something new and a stick-out hit song ("High drama"). markus Krunegård's characteristic voice underlines brilliantly the intimate lyrics which are thematically ranging from self-pity drowned in fuel to an ironic view on the junk of the hearts. Summing it up, Laakso has created an interesting and good-sounding audio portrait of the variety of emotions circulating around the all-time number-one-topic also known as "love".
- Janis Meissner
With all the bands influenced by post-punk these days you would expect more bands taking cues from New Order and Depeche mode than there are. The type of electro-pop these pioneers did in the eighties produced some pretty good singles over the years. New City play in that same area with this full length filled with catchy melodies, dark ambiance and slow rhythms. The most important parts of the mix are that it is never too corny and has the same dark humor the British were displaying.
- Simon Thibaudeau
SKWBN's first album is a bit mellower and, to a certain extend, a more experimental affair than their previous two EPs (#1 and #2). Fortunately, it still has that Jens Lekman / Beat Happening / Jonathan Richman feel to it (quirky instrumentation and quirky lyrics where there's no shame in rhyming 'pretty' with 'Tom Petty'). This seems to be a style that tons of Swedish kids are trying to emulate at the moment (a bit like what the Strokes did to the American and British scene, but in a much smaller context, of course), but not a lot of them do it as well as SKWBN, Lekman or El Perro Del mar (although Agent Simple and montt mardié are looking very promising). SKWBN haven't forgotten how to write hits either (e.g. "Noodles"), and this is in fact a very strong album that deserves all the attention it can possible get, from you, you, and you.
- Simon Tagestam
Tape reminds me of the montreal collective Set Fire to Flame (that include some GYBE members) and that, in itself, is a compliment. Combining some post-rock structures and patterns with sound-collage and ambient soundscapes, Tape manage to make cohesive music, despite its complexity. This album is very, very good.
- Simon Thibaudeau
This week's Friday pick comes from Swedish artrockers Svenson. I don't know what's up with the band these days, but the album "See you in earth" is something special. Drummer Anders Gustafsson (also in Silverbullit) provides a steady foundation while the rest of the guys do their best to mess things up in all the best possible ways. It's noisy and chaotic, but always fun. Unlike many similar-sounding acts, Svenson never succumbs to darkness or tries to act grim. Never underestimate the importance of a healthy sense of humor! Take pleasure in sonic destruction! m/store.php?item=18">Buy it here.
The Independent interviews The Cardigans: ment.independent.co.uk/music/interviews/article320989.ece" target=_blank>https://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/interviews/article320989.ece