MP3: Randy - Karl Marx and history

Happy May Day comrades! PS, new Randy album in 2009? I wouldn't hold my breath, but it just might happen.

Randy - Karl Marx and history

MP3: Existensminimum - 1993

Sad truth: Existensminimum are solely a critic's act. Perhaps he'll get his proper due sometime down the road (as often happens for similarly cursed artists), but for now I think that Magnus Henriksson is doomed to empty acclaim. A perfect 5/5 review in Dagens Nyheter? Sure! Popular support from hip young bloggerati? Naah, not gonna happen. His music is too different, too belabored, too lacking in immediate satisfaction. There are no easy shortcut reference points. "1993", my favorite track from the new album "Ok boys", has an obvious Krautrock feel, but it's much more than that. The phrasing of the vocals and the shouted asides amp up the immediacy while the drums and piano continue to pound on relentlessly. Drugs! Death! MTV! What's it all mean? Where's it going? New sounds sneak in, closing in the walls, creating claustrophobia and panic. It's not pop exactly -- I don't know what it is -- but it's good.

Existensminimum - 1993

MP3: Dear Euphoria - That you would

This is something that would've actually fit in perfectly with last week's quiet music theme, but I simply didn't have the time to put the figurative words to paper. In fact, featured artist David Åhlén shares production and engineering credits on a few tracks, including this one. Similarly, Dear Euphoria (aka Elina Johansson) is dark and mysterious, not too unlike Stina Nordenstam in some regards, but warmer and approachable, more analog and more intimate. 'Ghostlike' is the word my wife used to describe her voice just a few minutes ago when she walked by my office and was wondering who I listening to. Certainly can't argue with that, especially when Elina lets loose those huge harrowing swoops, way up towards the ether. It sounds so eerie and other-worldly and, of course, quite beautiful. So yeah, definitely not boo! scary! ghostlike, but still absolutely haunting. Very recommended!

Dear Euphoria - That you would

MP3: Knife and Ape - Sexual tension

Listen at Knife and Ape twists away from their usual skronky art-punk to deftly apply the melodic sensibilities of The Residents/Snakefinger. Does it make you queasy? It does for me, especially when the sad-clown guitar licks come in. And the half-drowned, sea-sick vocals? All part of the aesthetic and yes, 100% intentional. Art is not all rainbows and unicorns, y'know. Beauty comes in many forms.

Knife and Ape - Sexual tension

MP3: Halph - New money

Halph is not like other guitar/drum duos. No garage-rock, no friend-rock, no empty spazzouts. "New money" presents them at their least subdued, but even then, they're still dark and drone-heavy with lots of loose open chords and a slightly atonal sense of melody. It's taken me while to warm to their peculiar sound, but now with album #3 "The world is as you are", I think we've come to a place where we can connect better. They've figured out what works for them without sacrificing any of their weird deadpan vibe and I've since learned a better appreciation of rock minimalism. It's a good meeting point, everyone's happy.

Halph - New money

MP3: Thåström - Linnéa

Once I settled on the idea of dedicating this week to quiet/mellow-er material for my mp3 posts, I quickly realized I had way too many worthwhile qualifying tracks, but one artist stands head and shoulders above the rest and that is Thåström. Embarrasingly, I am nowhere near as familiar with his back-catalog as I should be, but I made sure snag a copy of the vinyl LP (#348/500, thank you very much) at my first opportunity since I dug Thåström's recent work with Sällskapet so much. I don't regret it one bit either -- "Kärlek är för dom" has been on steady rotation here ever since it showed up a few weeks back. For those unfamiliar with Joakim Thåström and his long career from fronting Ebba Grön to his work with acts such as Imperiet, Peace Love & Pitbulls and so on, I can only describe his current solo work as "industrial blues" though that really doesn't do it justice. Yes, it's bluesy and industrial, but it's so much more. It's funny, my wife has commented multiple times that he sounds almost like he's singing with an Irish brogue when his voice echoes out my office, despite singing in Swedish, though I guess perception from a distance can be funny that way. Regardless, it's not too outlandish a claim to be considered. I can certainly hear it; his voice has a roughness fitting for a damaged poet from anywhere.
It's hard to pick a track to share, though "Linnéa" is a definite standout, the steady pulse of the underlying synthline is so ominous and haunting. The mystery and the darkness, the questions unanswered; it hangs thick like fog. As the vocals strain and stutter, it's emphasized further, even moreso considering the restraint of the arrangement. It's all struggle without resolution. There's just one thing I don't understand: how can something so dark and powerful also be so popular? Life so rarely seems to work out like that. Only in Sweden, I suppose.

Thåström - Linnéa

MP3: The Late Call - Put your lights on

More quiet melancholic music for you today, in keeping with this week's unofficial theme. The Late Call is the project of Stockholm-based singer/songwriter Johannes Mayer and his debut album "Leaving notes" was released earlier this month through German label Tapete Records. "Put your lights on" is the opening track and by far my favorite -- it's got a bit of José González' understated beauty, but the vocals are far more forward and the mood far less introspective, thus giving it an immediate pop appeal. But really, I just like singer/songwriters who can manage to wrangle so much out of a nearly unadorned fingerpicked guitar + vocal composition. No tricks, no distractions, just the bare essence of the song. Nothing else is needed.

The Late Call - Put your lights on

MP3: David Åhlén - Spirit fall

"Spirit fall" is about bringing God closer to earth, closer to the soul. "Draw us near" reflects a similar longing sentiment, but I find that this reflects a much deeper feeling of resignation, an acceptance of human imperfection, of spiritual impoverishment. Hence the sadness of the melody -- the desire for connection is as strong as ever, but weakness prevails. "Heaven fall / Invade earth / Fill us up / With your heart / With your love" A step away from forlorn and forsaken, but not without hope.

David Åhlén's debut record "We sprout in thy soil", his first under his under his own name, is absolutely gorgeous. You don't need to share his beliefs to be touched; the beauty of his art come through regardless.

David Åhlén - Spirit fall

MP3: OK Star Orchestra - Sing-Sing the Cat

Another instrumental track today: OK Star Orchestra is a Stockholm-based trio featuring the somewhat non-standard instrumentation of two guitars plus drums. No bass, but that's okay; they make up for it with twang. Or maybe it's just Olympia getting to me -- the city's historical lack of bass (see: Sleater-Kinney and Bratmobile for example, or more currently, Gun Outfit) is consistent. Actually, on this particular track that I'm sharing today they've enlisted the Sing-Sing of the title to mew a bit and there's also a tuba player that comes in to fill out the bottom-end. How could you not be charmed? I bet that even folks who profess to hate country music will find something to like here.

OK Star Orchestra - Sing-Sing the Cat

MP3: Nutid - Pianoflikkan

Nutid is the duo of Åsa Jacobsson and Alf Håkan Åkesson and together they make beautiful instrumental music. Which is odd in a way because Åsa is well-known as Marit Bergman's favorite songwriting collaborator and she has also worked with quite a few other Stockholm-based pop projects (Consequences, Peter Bjorn and John, etc.). Alf is no slouch either, he's released a few well-received folksy singer/songwriter albums under his first name. So for the two of them to come together to do something completely different is a surprise; unexpected but welcome. "Pianoflikkan" is one of the longer tracks on the record (they typically average out to 2:30-3:00, owing very much to the duo's pop-oriented roots) and is quite reminiscent of classic Swedish progg. The melodies are very Jan Johansson in their elegant melancholy, especially when the piano takes the lead, but the piece wouldn't sound out of place on a Björn Olsson album either. The cinematic and the pastoral, together as one; a bit of twang and timpani. Spring has finally arrived and the flowers are slowing opening just like the smiles on people's faces as they enjoy a bit of hard-earned sunshine. This is the soundtrack for such a morning.

Nutid - Pianoflikkan

MP3: Convoj - Liberty City

Tomorrow at Debaser Malmö: It's a Trap! Clubnight featuring Convoj and Pretty Whores! I shouldn't have to remind you how great Convoj are since I've been talking them up from the very beginning, but I've got an mp3 below just in case you remain ignorant. Those guys are easily one of the best acts keeping the classic Swedish indie/noiserock/post-hardcore/post-punk sound alive. Few others compete; I can count them on one hand: NEI, The End Will Be Kicks, Giant Boar, Voices Break the Silence. Am I missing anyone? You might be able to lump Aerial in there once their new album comes out, but that's about it. Anyhow, point being: great band, not to be missed.
As for Pretty Whores, I haven't heard their new EP yet, but it seems to be getting good reviews and I most certainly approve of their shortened name (minus "Of Manhattan"). I think they'd be better off dropping it altogether and starting fresh, but whatever -- they're young dudes, they'll figure it out.

Convoj - Liberty City

MP3: Murmansk - Sweet trio

This could almost be a U2 song at the start, but that bass is way too cavernous. And of course the vocals have none of Bono's self-importance; rather they settle into the mix like another instrument. The further you go however, the deeper you get into Murmansk's own heavy shoegaze sound, emphasis on the heavy. This particular track doesn't ever wallop you with a huge chorus though, rather it's all about the tone and the mood, especially seeing as how this is merely the opener for new album "Eleven eyes to shade". Everything that follows builds on what came before and let me tell you, it is truly epic to behold. Play LOUD.

Murmansk - Sweet trio

MP3: Small - Sunshine lover

The Danish act Small has an instantly recognizable and very appealing sound -- every single track is chock full of warm fuzzy synths and vocoder vocals set to mechanical beats and layered with major-key arpeggios. Kinda like a summery version of Kraftwerk, especially on tracks such as "Sunshine lover" which is absolutely blissed out robot-pop. So simple and easy to love, yet the band has not received the attention they deserve. It's a shame too, because I can see this appealing to both fans of The Radio Dept. and Robyn and just about everyone in between. For readers who might feel like I don't post enough straight-up pop, this one's for you.

Small - Sunshine lover

MP3: Anna Frank - Happy story

No, this is not a happy story. That much is obvious from the melody before you even hear Anna Frank say it and it's that dark mood that makes it appealing. As for the plot, I'm at a loss. There's a romantic come-on in there somewhere, but it's confused. "Still years to go" implies a deliberate end, at least to my ears. Otherwise, so much of the song is concerned with trading lies -- does that make the story pure fiction? But still worth reading/living? I would not be so compelled.
Similarly, I am drawn to Anna Frank's music, but not entirely captivated. It's sonically interesting, but there is also a sterility that puts me off: too clean, too disengaged, too well-practiced. Perhaps it's that same lack of sincerity she's singing about; it seeps into the performance. I am not so convinced.

Anna Frank - Happy story

MP3: The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes

I can't say for sure if The Crystal Caravan always have sounded the way they do, but it seems to me that Dennis Lyxzén's production fingerprints are all over their debut full-length. Chicken or the egg, either way it's got some serious The (International) Noise Conspiracy boogie vibes, but instead of channeling The Nation of Ulysses, The Crystal Caravan draws more from The Allman Brothers or Eric Burdon and other Southern soul-inspired rock'n'roll. Same sweet keyboard tones, same shambly groove, different retro vibe. Aiming for the revival tent, not the garage. And mercifully, no tired sloganeering. I know Dennis' heart is in the right place, but so much of that stuff feels like climbing a mountain of sand. "Tombstone eyes" is easily the most driving tune off the album; it's a bit too well-oiled for my tastes, but I do dig those organ breaks and I'm sure it goes down much rougher live. Or at least that's what I've been led to believe; apparently vocalist Niklas "RG" Gustafsson has quite the reputation...?

The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes