Tag: Mp3s
I've held off on posting a track from Detektivbyrån for a couple weeks now because I've been waiting for them to get back to me with responses to a few interview questions I sent them. Well, I can wait no more. Finding new music that's as unique and inspired as Detektivbyrån is a rarity and I knew as soon as I heard them that they'd be someone I want to share with you. A lot of their sound comes from their reliance on the accordion as the melodic lead. They often mix it up with various other non-standard instruments, but it's the squeeze-box that stands out, especially on the song I've posted today - the opening track of their debut EP "Hemvägen". It's not languid enough to be called Morricone-esque, but it's definitely soundtrack-worthy. Close your eyes and no doubt you'll be swept far away to some foreign land, perhaps embroiled in a spy chase or the like. It's not often that music can be this vivid. Very recommended.
Detektivbyrån - E18
Guest post today from frequent contributor Nancy Baym:
I wrote in my IAT review that Starflower songs sound too much alike, but lucky for them, it's a good sound. "Dance till morning light" from their debut record "Moment in the sun" is probably the best song on their record, a disposable yet imminently loveable pop song about a girl living in the now who doesn't care, doesn't mind, just wants to dance till the morning light. It's more like a snack than a real meal with it's jingle jangle guitars and plaintive vocals, but I don't care and I don't mind because it's still really yummy.
Starflower - Dance till morning light
I've mentioned my appreciation of Christian music a few times here and there, but I think some clarification is in order. When I talk about good Christian music, I mean passionate stuff like Namur and Isolation Years or 16 Horsepower and even the Louvin Brothers. It's important to note that except for the latter, all of these acts consider themselves musicians first, Christians second. The mission is to make music, not necessarily spread the gospel, though inevitably their convictions are reflected in the music. Want an example of what not to do? Listen to today's mp3 from Ella Rouge. This is exactly the kind of empty, vapid music that gives Christian rock such a horrid name. If the Holy Spirit moves you in profound ways, the music should reflect that. Hiring a gospel choir to double the final chorus is no substitute for real emotion. The first couple songs on their record aren't so bad - overproduced and generic yeah, but listenable. I probably wouldn't change the channel if they came on the radio. But this song? Terrible. Painful even. Download at your own risk. Some trivia: The band features the vocals of one Ludwig Andersson, son of Benny from Abba. Though technically proficient in every way, I feel his talents could be put to much better use.
Ella Rouge - Manhattan
Two guestposts in a row? Sure, why not? Today belongs to Matt Giordano:
Seeing as how The Knife are playing their debut US shows at the cusp of October and November (also coinciding with the US release of their prior two albums), I thought it would be nice to offer up a highlight from 2004's "Deep cuts", and probably my favourite Knife song to date. Attention DJs: this song will get the crowd moving.
If you haven't gotten into The Knife yet, you are seriously missing out on one of Sweden's greatest exports. Very recommended.
The Knife - Listen now
Guest post today courtesy of Simon Tagestam:
It's perhaps not that hip anymore to sound like Prince, since we've already got major mainstream artists like Justin Timberlake and André from Outkast who often sound like they've moved to Minneapolis and joined the Jehovah's Witnesses. Still, Juvelen is a one man band (real name: Jonas Pettersson) whose songs are crazily influenced by Prince, but thanks to the quality, it's hard to voice any complaints. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't sound that great, but on his hit "Watch your step", it's stars and rainbows all the way. So far Juvelen hasn't released anything 'properly,' but it'll be very interesting to see if whatever he does release will be as good as these three and a half minutes of soulful greatness.
Juvelen - Watch your step
I know very little about Villebråd outside of the basic info supplied in their bio. Their new album showed up totally unexpected in a stack of CDs from Swedish psych/prog label Transubstans Records. I still have to go back and listen to the rest of the discs with more attention to detail, but Villebråd immediately stood out from the rest. The sound is firmly rooted in classic prog ala King Crimson or say fellow Swedes Anekdoten, but there's also a very strong melodic pop sensibility ala Japan/David Sylvian or maybe even The Gathering and early Soundtrack of Our Lives. Enough atmosphere to be called space-rock, but they never go overboard - the songs on the album "Alla är här uton jag" all clock in at a merciful 5:10 or less. That's some serious self-restraint for a band who willfully labels themselves as 'prog'. Like I said, they've got pop sensibilities. Despite the odd syncopation, the main verse riff of the song I've posted today is quite catchy. I especially love the siren whistle in the buildup, nicely balanced by hard-panned, alternating guitar stabs before opening up into the chorus. There's tons more surprises like that all over the record. If you can get into TSOOL's less straightforward, more adventurous material then Villebråd is for you.
Villebråd - Ingenting
I hereby decree that the 2006 most improved artist award goes to Nikola Sarcevic for his album "Roll roll and flee". The Millencolin frontman's first solo album "Lock-sport-krock" in 2004 sounded like little more than a few leftover songs from his main band, slowed down and performed acoustically. It felt much more like a vanity project as opposed to an artist struggling to break free from the expectations and constraints of his regular band. However, all that has changed with the new record - Nikola has finally discovered the nuance required to take his material to the next level. He sounds much more comfortable performing in a country/folk idiom, never forced or contrived. I can't say whether or not he'll have a strong solo career ahead of him like his peer Kristofer Åström (who released his first solo record "Go, went, gone" in 1998 after four albums with Fireside), but listening to songs like the one I've posted today, it's not hard to imagine. I'm impressed.
Nikola Sarcevic - Love is trouble
Not only are The Tough Alliance playing Tack! Tack! Tack! tonight, but they've also got a new album out. It's called "Escaping your ambitions" and it's a new age record. I'm not kidding you at all either - it opens with the sound of lolling ocean waves and seagulls and features tons of synthtones with the attack set so soft, it feels like a feather against your eardrum. No heavy house beats, just a smattering of table. No vocals except for a few short samples. Nope, all you get is the soothing sounds of Swedish new age music. My wife the ex-massage therapist commented that she could imagine doing a session with this as the soundtrack. What's more: I actually really like it. I was surprised at how much I liked TTA's previous EP, but this is ridiculous. What's wrong with me? Am I getting soft?
The Tough Alliance - Leg 7
Besides my own "Reader's companion" CDs there really isn't a better soundtrack to this site than the new "Svensk indie" compilation just released from NONS. Compiled by journalist/promoter/indie guru Terry Ericsson with assistance from Per Helin and Emelie Bååth, this collection is a monstrous 42-tracks plus copious liner notes (på Svensk, naturally). If you don't already have a good majority of these songs in your collection, this is probably the easiest way to get yourself educated. My interview with Terry is still in the works, but I did catch up with both Emelie and Per to ask them about their favorite selections:
Emelie: My favourite song on the compilation is "Hey princess" by Popsicle. It's one of the songs in my life that always makes me glad and it's also a brilliant and perfect floor filler! I actually first heard it on a dance floor, I don't remember which pop club in Sthlm it was, but it could have been Flowered Up or Too Cool for School sometime around -98. I guess I was too young to discover the song when it first was released. To me, back then, Popsicle was all about "Not forever" and "American poet" but the song "Hey princess" simply had a great revival around that time, the dj:s were playing it on clubs and the younger crowd (with me included) discovered the song and I remember that I fell in love with the song at once.
Per: Suredo - "Average cell". That was one of the first Swedish indie tunes that really caught my attention. When I first heard it I remember thinking; what interesting new English band is this (this was at the time when British still was a positive thing musically wise).
But what about all the great songs that were left out? Their picks...
Emelie: I really tried to get Laakso and their song "Long Beach" on the compilation since Laakso is one of my favourite Swedish bands and "Long Beach" one of their greatest songs, but there simply was no room. Unfortunately.
Per: Wow, that¹s many... For me it would probably be any song by Komeda.
Since I figure that trying to decide upon the 'best' Komeda song would be next to impossible, I'm offering up Laakso's "Long Beach" as today's mp3. Why not? Also, if you're in Stockholm, don't forget to check out the release party at Debaser Medis tomorrow October 14. I have no idea who the secret band will be, but I'm sure it'll be good.
Laakso - Long Beach
I don't know what's come over me! I love the new Deportees single "Missing you, missing me". Yes, the same Deportees that I openly mocked after seeing them in LA a few years ago. I dunno if it's the woo-woos! or that catchy call-and-response guitar lick, but the song is certifiably great. I'm still skeptical about checking out the rest of the album as I don't want to ruin the warm fuzzy feeling I currently have, so I remain blissfully ignorant. Maybe it's good? I don't know and I don't need to know. All that matters is "Missing you, missing me".
Deportees - Missing you, missing me
The word that best describes Fontän is cinematic. It's an intriguing blend of electronic and acoustic instrumentation painted with a broad emotional palette. Often playful, joyous even, but also languid and brooding as on the track I've posted today (which happens to feature guest vocals from Sarah Assbring aka El Perro Del Mar). What can I say? I like droning pop. But I also like how the album "Aktionskammarn" runs the gamut from happy to sad and back again, sometimes within the context of single track. The composition and arrangements are exceptional as well - Fontän shows deft control over their pieces despite the variety of sound. Again, it's this embrace of diversity that makes the music so strong. Cerebral, but not necessarily challenging if you catch my drift. Very recommended.
Fontän - You, me & a tree
Some of you probably already noticed - there's a brand new netrelease from The Giant's Dream for download! "Aeons bygone" is an eight-song, 20-minute sci-fi post-rock/electronica concept piece and I've posted a good introductory track in the mp3 playlist if that sounds a bit daunting to you. Otherwise, I strongly suggest that you download the EP and put it on while reading my interview with Joakim Westlund, one-half of The Giant's Dream. As always, I am working hard to bring you the best and most interesting music that Scandinavia has to offer and, as with this offering, you can't beat the price. Enjoy!
The Giant's Dream - The wastelands of Arrakis
This week's hot tip: Voices Break the Silence. If you're at all into Convoj, The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four or any other "angular" rock acts, these guys will be right up your alley. In fact, it was Ola from Seven Feet Four who first told me about them - a day before Magnus from Chalksounds/Nomethod (the former being the label of both Convoj and TEWBK) sent me an excited IM with the same recommendation. The band remains unsigned for now, but I doubt it will take long for someone to pick them up. I know this sort of rock doesn't usually get people fired up like whatever flavor-of-the-week twee act is going 'round, but I live for this kind of stuff. It's got just the right balance of heaviness and melodicism: huge churning bass and slicing guitars. Also: I tried to interview them for this week's profile piece, but they never replied to my email. What gives? Get back to me!
Voices Break the Silence - The way
Before The Haunted, before there was Witchery, Patrik Jensen was in a band called Seance. Unlike a lot of the other Swedish death-metal acts around in the early 90s that are still remembered today, Seance performed in a much more brutal, syncopated style as opposed to the "traditional" melodic stuff people usually are talking about when discussing Swedish metal. If you're at all familiar with Jensen's work that shouldn't be too surprising as he's been cranking out album after album of Slayer-esque riffage like a machine for many years now. I imagine most folks will have a hard time getting past the monotone burp-metal vocals so my advice is to just do what I do: concentrate on the drums. Jensen does fine emulating the guitar attack of King/Hanneman, but it's drummer Micke's Lombardo-style pummel that makes Seance so awesome. Well, that and the loud steamroller bass tone. Much more Jesus Lizard in timbre than typical death-metal. This particular track I've posted today comes from the band's second and final album, 1993's "Saltrubbed eyes". If you can get past the vocals, it's well worth seeking out. I think The Haunted are okay, but I like this stuff a lot more (and similarly would recommend the Björler twins' earlier band At the Gates as well, but that's a no-brainer). As for the band's first album "Forever laid to rest" (1992), I am horribly remiss and have never heard it. Anyone know if it's worthwhile?
Seance - Skinless
I think it's safe to say that no one expects Anna Ternheim to top "Shoreline" anytime soon. Her emotionally devastating take on the Broder Daniel anthem was absolutely perfect, a notion further reinforced by her lukewarm follow-up EP of all cover songs. I thought she was a fine artist before "Shoreline", but that's the song she'll be remembered for. So now that Anna has a new record out, what's the expectation? To be completely honest, I didn't have high hopes, but perhaps that's a good thing because "Separation road" is surprisingly good. I'd say it's even better than her debut, despite the lack of any transcendent moments like "Shoreline". It's consistently strong the whole way through thus proving Anna's stature as a fine singer/songwriter. The lead single "Girl laying down" is great (and can be viewed as part of this week's video mix), but that CCR guitar riff that anchors "Feels like sand" gets me every time. It's dingy and dark during the verses and then it opens up into something delicate and lovely. There's many other songs just as post-worthy, but their charms are more subtle and that classic guitar hook gets stuck in my head every time I hear it.
Anna Ternheim - Feels like sand