Tag: Mp3s
Our guest for this week's Göteborg Spotlight feature: Lisen Rylander of Midaircondo and The Splendor. On to the questions!
How long have you lived in Göteborg? What brought you there and what keeps you hanging around?
I've lived here for all my life except for two years in Skurup studying improvisation, and two and a half years in Stockholm. I really enjoy living here now, I think it's a good music climate and I play with many good musicians. Of course I'm sometimes thinking of moving to another city for a while when I think Göteborg is too small. For example New York would be nice, but not right now. Actually, I often like the small size of Göteborg, you always meet someone you know on the street and it's easy to get everywhere.
I'm touring internationally a lot and Göteborg is a nice city to have as a base.
Do you think there's a particular Gbg sound or attitude? If so, how would you describe it?
Yes, maybe... I think there's a very relaxed music atmosphere here, not so much competition between musicians. Since media in Sweden are very focused on what's going on in Stockholm, musicians here have kind of the same situation in fighting for attention. Most Gbg musicians I've met are also very musically open minded. Göteborg is kind of an industrial city, rough in a way, and that sometimes shows in the music. A lot of interesting bands and artists are coming from here. For example, an artist like Håkan Hellström could probably not come from another city than Göteborg...
How does the city inspire you? Is it the people? The geography? Weather? Other artists?
I'm inspired by the way many Gbg musicians are open minded and do their own thing irrespectively of what other people think.
One thing I appreciate about the Gbg scene is that it seems to foster a collaborative attitude - do you find this to be true as well? How do you think it compares with the scene in Stockholm and/or other Swedish cities (or elsewhere)?
I agree that there's a collaborative attitude among musicians in Gbg but I can't really compare to other cities... Maybe this attitude comes from that the city is quite small and everyone knows one another. Also, musicians here often mix genres. But on the other hand, I think this is quite common everywhere these days.
In my interviews with Petter Ottosson of Fang Bomb I bemoaned the lack of a female presence in the experimental music world. Would you agree that this is the case? What do you think can be done to change the situation?
Yes, I agree that there's too few female artists in experimental music but I think it's about to change. For younger female musicians to have role models in experimental music, it's important that the one's working in the field today are encouraged and exposed.
Lastly, do you have a song you'd like to share with our readers?
Sure! Here is "Canary Islands" with The Splendor. It's a track from the new cd "Sound of Splendor", released in April.
The Splendor - Canary Islands
Terveet Kädet may be the gold standard for Finnish hardcore punk (going strong since 1980!), but they're almost a bit too raging for my tastes, believe it or not. Deserving the accolades afforded them? Hell yeah, just not the sort of thing I feel like throwing on the stereo on a regular basis. Instead, I very much prefer the more melodic sounds of bands like Lama. Still raw and totally raging, but with more a streetpunk vibe that you can sing along to, assuming you can understand Finnish. The band's single compilation "...ja mikään ei muuttunut" is 100% killer early punkrock and the track "Bussi" off their debut 7" (as posted today) is a definite standout. Love the gang vocals, the hey! shouts, even the weird, blazed-out solo. 100% classic!
Note: Not to be confused with the contemporary electronic artist from Norway. He's okay, but he's not anywhere near as good as this.
Lama - Bussi
I've been getting my Finnish shoegaze confused! Murmansk, who I covered on Tuesday, have never been a postrock band. That would be On Volcano, today's featured artists. Gah, so many bios to read I can't keep 'em straight. Anyhow, both are great bands with an awful lot of similarities besides their country of origin as they both employ female vocalists, though I'd say that On Volcano is by far the poppier of the two. Whereas Murmansk piles on heavy layers of sound and tends to bury the vocals into the mix, On Volcano places them front and center. "Ride the wolf", the opening track of their debut EP "My sleep was filled with dreams", even has a bit of early U2 to it, with those martial drum beats and prominent bassline. You also get a bit of new-wave pop, not too far off from what the Swedish band Paris is known for. However, it's on the half-time breakdown on the 2nd half of the song that they really let loose, offering up a barrage of lush guitar textures. So yeah, similar but different but equally awesome.
On Volcano - Ride the wolf
When I said I was going to post mostly Finnish music this week, I said that fully knowing I would be posting a track to accompany today's interview with Håkan Lidbo on the new "Musik för främmande civilisationer"/"Music for alien civilizations" compilation. "Who we are" by 18000018018018401 and Hab is easily the most Earth-friendly of the tracks in that it's got a steady danceable beat and discernible samples of human voices spelling out some of the more negative aspects of humanity. It is, as the title clearly states, who we are, is it not? As for the rest of the record, Håkan isn't kidding when he says that many of the artists composed for an audience who might have an entirely different idea of what music is, if they even have music at all. While that might not make for an "enjoyable" listen in ways we are usually accustomed, it is, at the very least, interesting. So yeah, please check out the piece below and be sure to read the interview
18000018018018401 and Hab - Who we are
I don't cover nearly as much Finnish music as I probably should. I mostly blame that on the language barrier, but I also know I could do better and that's why I've decided to (mostly) focus on Finnish artists the rest of the week. I already covered the hardcore band Abduktio yesterday, so today we turn our attention to Murmansk, a shoegaze/dreampop band from Helsinki with a female vocalist and, as they say themselves, an aggressive edge. "Chinese locks" is the band's debut album and it's out on Around Your Neck, a young new label that, judging from earlier releases, specializes in 90s nostalgia, though I'd say it's the wrong kind (ugh, Pavement - no thanks). Murmansk on the other hand, hearken back to the late-80s heyday of 4AD, evoking the darker, more ethereal qualities of artists like Cocteau Twins or Dead Can Dance, but tempered with the noisy outbursts of The Pixies. Once you find out the band started life as a postrock instrumental trio before adding vocalist/guitarist Laura Soininen, the end result makes even more sense. It's heavy, atmospheric and, all in all, immensely satisfying. And, for a debut album, quite impressive. Very recommended!
NOTE: Please see Thursday's post for a small correction/update.
Murmansk - Nothing but the moon
With the release of their new album "Thermidor", the Finnish band Abduktio has evolved into an impressive progressive-minded hardcore act. The band still thrashes hard, but they aim much higher and as such, temper their sound with an epic melodic sensibility that's unusual for the genre. Think of Japanese band Envy and their post-rockish tendencies or perhaps consider Canadians Fucked Up and the way they stretch beyond the confines of the typical 2-minute punk track. Abduktio embraces similar tendencies and make it their own. "Kevään merkkejä" ("Signs of spring") is the centerpiece of the album, a song about the environmental consciousness that rises out of watching the world thaw, but also a song about similarly waking up to all the injustice of the world around you. Clearing the frost from your eyes, as it were. I love the way the song twists and turns, the subtle unexpected melodic shifts, the crisp recording that allows every instrument to be equal in focus. Despite the non-standard structure, the piece never loses direction and always returns seamlessly to the various refrains. Thank goodness there's bands like this out there to push boundaries.
Abduktio - Kevään merkkejä
Freddie Wadling has been a Göteborg mainstay for many, many years. I've covered Cortex before, but he also did time in early punk acts such as Liket Lever and Straightjackets and various other influential acts such as The Leather Nun (today's featured mp3), Blue for Two, Fläskkvartetten/Fleshquartet, not to mention his work as a solo artist and more recently, with the group Mother. And that doesn't even touch on his work in other arenas, such as the stage. So yeah, a busy guy with a vast discography. While I appreciate a huge swath of his work, I'm definitely drawn more to his earlier material. Naturally, Cortex is a huge favorite (easily my #1 Swedish postpunk band), but I also really like The Leather Nun, especially their debut record "Slow death". This is proto goth rock, stripped raw and angry. They do sometimes exhibit some of the theatrics inherit in the genre, but you'd never know it by hearing "No rule", a revved-up fury of a track. More Misfits than Bauhaus, if you know what I mean. The band would later polish up quite a bit on subsequent recordings though they never were able to top the debut in my mind. A certified classic, if you ask me.
The Leather Nun - No rule
Two things! First, the reunion of Yvonne. I mentioned it in passing a few weeks ago and now the date (June 7 @ Debaser Medis in Stockholm) is just about upon us. Honestly, I'm much more familiar with their reputation than with their music, but I do know their big hit "Modern love" which is a great song. As for them being heralded as Eskilstuna's answer to Joy Division, well, you can hear a bit of the darkness that would become more prominent in post-Yvonne act Strip Music, but this particular track is 100% indie pop. Which leads me into point #2 - the comp I pulled this track from, "Svensk indie 1988-2006 - En kärleks historia", will finally be available in a brand new English-language edition. NONS has informed me that copies are now ready, so hopefully I'll be getting 'em really really soon. It should go without saying, but it's a great comp and I'm eager to pour over the copious liner notes in a language I can easily understand.
Yvonne - Modern love
"Lion tamer vs. tigers" is easily the most pop thing that Echo Is Your Love has ever done. They've still got the noiserock dissonance and artrock sensibilities that define them, but the songwriting is much more structured and concise. It's also got a great postpunk discobeat, perfect for the Boys of Scandinavia remix that wraps up the EP. Why BoS excised the chorus from said track baffles me though; that's the bit that makes the song. They tease you with it a few times in the beginning, giving a quick taste before hammering it home on repeat at the end, leaving it ringing in your ears. It's still the classic tried and true verse/chorus/verse formula, but far less obvious and far more smart. Also, while I can certainly appreciate EIYL's experimentalism, it doesn't always hold up so well to repeated listens. This track does. I'm looking forward to see what they do next.
Echo Is Your Love - Lion tamer versus tigers
I know a lot of folks are eager to kickstart the Kleerup backlash in earnest, so to them let me say this: sorry, but his new album really isn't all that bad. For one, he's got a lot of starpower in his favor; Robyn, Marit Bergman, Lykke Li (today's mp3), Titiyo, Lisa Milberg (The Concretes) and Neneh Cherry all lend their voices to tracks. On the other hand, those tracks are the only standouts as Kleerup's instrumentals are unanimously forgettable. So when I say that the album isn't all that bad, it really isn't all that great either. "Until we bleed" is sublime, smoky and sad-sack, easily the album highlight. I'm not even that much of a Lykke Li fan, but her fragile delivery here suits the dark, bubbly sound to a tee. It's all about vibe and the string samples in the refrain accentuate her vulnerability, giving the track a subdued but seductive coating. Compared to "With every heartbeat" (ft. Robyn), my pick for the 2nd best track (and one I assume everyone's already heard more than enough times by now), it's far less immediate, but far more rewarding overall. The formula is almost exactly the same almost to the point of self-plagiarization, except that Robyn can't help but make everything she sings into an anthem. When Kleerup attempts to do the same with Marit Bergman and Titiyo, the results are decent enough, but nowhere near as exciting. It's not the vocalists' fault - they do their job adequately enough, the tracks just don't accentuate their strengths. In a word: tepid. Not hot, not cold, not even worth discussing. Grab this one and blast it, forget the rest.
Kleerup - Until we bleed (ft. Lykke Li)
The tune of "Concrete skyline" by King of All the Animals reminds me of that classic country chestnut "Sunday morning coming down". It's in the lilt of the melody, the phrasing of the vocals. Guest vocalist TV Smith (The Adverts) has more of a Mike Ness sneer than a Cash or Kristofferson croon, but it makes sense and fits KoAtA's garage-pop sound quite well. It's rough and presumes a life hard-lived, but it's not inaccessible, not in the slightest. However, the thing that's most important is the uplifting, optimistic feeling I get from listening to the track. Even though "Sunday morning coming down" might seem more depressing on the surface, I get the same impression from both songs. They are about new days and new beginnings, examining your surroundings and wanting something more. A perfect spring single, really.
King of All the Animals - Concrete skyline (ft. TV Smith)
Daniel Savio may be working with Service nowadays under his Kool Dj Dust alias, but I know him best as one of Sweden's leading skweee artists under his regular nomenclature. In fact, he's the dude credited with giving the skweee genre its name, so it's kinda fitting that his contribution of "2000 and great" to "Museum of future sound vol. 2" is one of the best tracks on there. On the other hand, it's kinda hard to pick favorites when every single one of them is so damn good. All those squiggly basslines, those squawks and squeaks - it's impossible to resist. A memorable melody line is almost superfluous, but it's not like I'm gonna turn it down, y'know? In a genre where it's more important to get bodies moving, any additional songwriting touches put it over the edge. Listen for that dark and bubbly breakdown in the middle and you'll hear what I mean. Like the title of the comp says, this is the sound of the future. I seriously cannot get enough.
Daniel Savio - 2000 and great
The Göteborg spotlight series continues! This week's guest: Mattias Carlsson, ex-drummer for The Smackdown and current member of Dead Vows, The VIII Arms Around You and Anchor.
How long have you lived in Gbg? What brought you there and what keeps you around?
I've been living in or close to Gothenburg all my life. It's a beautiful city. Small enough to make me feel like a human and big enough to not bore me out.
What's the current punk/hardcore scene like in Gbg? Is there much interaction with other indie music scenes or is it more insular? Is DIY culture alive and well? What about sXe, veg*nism and other related issues?
Yes, I definitely think Gbg is a city where people live their projects and make things happen. It's very inspiring. Unfortunately there's a lot of division though. The edge-kids support their thing, the indie-kids know where to go and the crusties go to their shows. It's a bit depressing when all of these kids are doing cool stuff, but don't get the attention or credit they deserve for their efforts. But that's what it's like everywhere, more or less.
There's there's a good amount of vegan and straight edge-kids around at the moment which makes me very happy and generally a lot people engaging in important stuff. Gbg is traditionally a working class city and politics have always had an important role in alternative music.
How does the legacy of Gbg's musical history affect you, if at all? Do you ever stop to consider the kids coming up in the scene now who may take your place in the future?
I don't really know. Even though Gothenburg has got a massive history of alternative music the only band I feel like I have some sort of relation to at the moment is At the Gates or Skitsystem. My sister and brother played a lot of Gbg punk-bands to me when I was a kid and all of them have meant very much to me, but I could probably not name many of them at the moment.
Since I hear you do a lot of booking, who are the bands to watch these days?
In my eyes there's quite a few new bands around that are awesome. Maybe not specifically from Gbg but in Sweden in general.The Cutting Edge are incredible, Scraps of Tape have always been unique and amazing. Repoman are awesome and Another Year too. Loads of things to be discovered!
Got a track you'd like to share? Either from one of your own bands or one you admire?
My projects can be found at myspace.com/deadvows, myspace.com/theviiiarmsaroundyou and myspace.com/xanchorx. Dead Vows are recording a full-length at this very moment. Should be out around August in time for our European tour! A band I admire, that'd have to be Scraps of Tape. Check myspace.com/scrapsoftape out. Amazing band!
However, seeing as how Mattias didn't bother actually sending a track, I'm forced to go with something from one of his bands whether he likes it or not. Here's "Guilt ridden" from The VII Arms Around You.
The Eight Arms Around You - Guilt ridden
I'm not gonna do the usual Friday flashback post today because I kind of did that yesterday, but I am going to take us back to 2007. I've mentioned Danish act No Privacy a few times in the past, but I never really caught up with them once they released their debut album "Crime and punishment" almost exactly one year ago. It's a shame too, 'cuz they're a great band deserving of more attention. "Steal my heart" is a total slow-burner. You know the whole time that it's gotta open up and let loose eventually and they tease you a bit, but even the chorus when it finally comes only hints at what's to come in the coda. Even still, they show enough restraint to leave you wanting more. As loud as it gets, it could still go bigger. I like that. There's also something very familiar and comforting about this band's sound. It's reminiscent of so much 90s alt-rock, but when pressed, I can't think of any examples to properly compare them to. Shame on me for sleeping on these guys for so long.
No Privacy - Steal my heart
I went through my day yesterday thinking it was Thursday and then woke up this morning dismayed to discover I'd have to go through it all again. Summer cannot come soon enough, amirite? Alright, so anyhow- I know it might seem incongruous, but the reason I bring it up is because I was all set to post my interview with Mattias Alkberg of MABD/The Bear Quartet and was thinking that an old MABD track would be the perfect Friday accompanyment. But it's not Friday, it's Thursday and just because people say that Thursday is the new Friday doesn't make it true. Well, I decided to go with it anyway and let Matti decide on which song would be most appropriate:
Below my post on the MABD web site there is an unreleased track, "Allting är drömt", did you notice that? Not a lot of people have, not yet anyway. It's a live demo from the the Easter holidays this year, our final rehearsals and I think it's one of the best things we ever did.
But if I were to choose, it would have to be this one: one of the songs from the "Ragnar EP": "Jag vill inte förstå". It might be a bit hard to decipher, but I sing about Tomas Tranströmer and the art of not understanding. It's not very representative of the band, but it's very representative of me to pick it.
Enjoy the track and be sure to read the interview.
MABD - Jag vill inte förstå